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Chromatography: knowledge check
1.1 Learners are completing an experiment to separate the coloured soluble
substances in two different food dyes.
The diagram shows the apparatus used and the chromatogram produced.
Label the diagram using some of the words provided.
chromatography paper origin line solvent solution
solvent front food colouring solute
Questions 1.2 to 1.4 are about the experiment in question 1.1.
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1.2 The table shows the steps in the chromatography process used to separate the
coloured substances, but they are given in the wrong order.
Add numbers to show the correct order for the steps. The first has been done
for you.
Draw an origin line in pencil about 1.5 cm from one end of the
1
chromatography paper.
Place the paper inside the beaker. Make sure it just touches the
water and it is vertical.
Check the paper is the right length by lining it up on the outside of
the beaker so that the water is below the origin line.
Use a pipette to add small drops of food colourings A and B on the
chromatography paper.
Allow the solvent to move through the paper, removing it before the
solvent reaches the top.
1.3 Use some of the words to complete the gaps in the following sentences.
rates mobile phase stationary phase
chromatography paper solvent solute solution
The chromatography paper is the __________________ __________________ . The
solvent is the __________________ __________________ . The different dissolved
substances in a mixture are attracted to the __________________ and the
chromatography paper in different proportions. This causes them to move at
different __________________ up the __________________ __________________ .
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1.4 Use some of the words to complete the gaps in the following sentences.
pure impure compound one
two or more three
A pure substance contains one type of element or __________________ only.
An impure substance contains _________________________ different elements or
compounds. Food colouring A consists of one substance and is a
__________________ substance.
Food colouring B contains __________________ different coloured substances.
Food colouring B is an __________________ substance.
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Chromatography: test myself
2.1 What type of mixtures can paper chromatography be used to separate?
[Hint: Think about whether the substances would be soluble or insoluble.]
2.2 This is a chromatogram of four different inks.
Circle the inks on the chromatogram that are pure substances.
2.3 How is chromatography used to identify unknown substances?
[Hint: Think about what can be measured and compared on a
chromatogram.]
2.4 Thin layer chromatography uses a glass plate coated with alumina or silica
gel.
What does this glass plate replace in the experiment in question 1.1?
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2.5 This is a chromatogram of dark blue ink.
The equation used to calculate the Rf value is:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Rf = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Use the data shown in the chromatogram, along with the equation, to
calculate the correct Rf values for the red, purple and blue substances.
Substance Rf values
Red
Purple
Blue
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2.6 A compound has a Rf value of 0.6. If the solvent travels 16.0 cm up the
chromatography paper, what is the distance travelled by the compound?
Use the equation to calculate the answer in cm.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = Rf × 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
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Chromatography: feeling confident?
3.1 This is a chromatogram of different coloured inks.
What can you conclude about the black ink from the chromatogram shown?
Use the words in your answer. The first sentence has been started to help you.
black ink red blue green orange
My conclusion is that the black ink contains
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3.2 Substances A, B and C are found in chlorophyll. The Rf values of these three
substances can be determined using thin layer chromatography and an
organic solvent.
The equation used to calculate the Rf value is:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Rf = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Use the equation to calculate the missing values in the table.
Distance travelled by the
Substance substance when the solvent Rf value
travels 10 cm (cm)
A 9.8
B 5.9
C 0.42
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Review my learning 14–16 years
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Chromatography: what do I understand?
Think about your answers and confidence level for each mini-topic. Decide whether
you understand it well, are unsure or need more help. Tick the appropriate column.
I understand I think I I need more
Mini-topic
this well understand this help
I can describe the process of
paper chromatography.
I can describe how to prepare
a chromatogram.
I can define a pure substance
and an impure substance
I can interpret a
chromatogram.
I can calculate Rf values.
I can use Rf values.
I understand I think I I need more
Feeling confident? topics
this well understand this help
I can interpret chromatograms
of coloured inks.
I can interpret and use
information from
chromatograms of chlorophyll.
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