chromatography of chlorophyll
Problem: Why do leaves change color in the fall?
Background: Leaves contain many pigments such as chlorophyll b, xanthophyll, and beta carotene besides chlorophyll a. They are part of the photosystem in the thylakoids. Pigment molecules can be separated by a procedure called chromatography. The procedure uses a special paper and solvent. The chlorophyll molecules adhere to the paper. The solvent molecules move up the paper by capillary action. Each chlorophyll molecule will travel up the paper at different rates.
Hypothesis: If chlorophyll is removed from the plant, then the different pigments in the plant can be visible.
Materials:
-Spinach -Coin -Chromatography paper
-Ruler -Bottle -Chromatography solvent -Napkin
Procedure:
1. Get materials
2. Open the bottle
3. Cut a piece of chromatography paper so that it fits in the bottle and a point on one end
4. Draw a pencil line 1.5 above the point
5. Roll a quarter over spinach which is on the pencil line. Let it dry. Repeat 3x
6. Place 1 cm of solvent in bottle
7. Place the paper strip so that the point of the paper strip just hits solvent
8. Let the bottle sit for 10 min
9. Open the bottle and take out the paper strip
10. Place the paper strip on the napkin
11. Measure solvent front and each pigment and determine each pigment’s color
Analysis of result:
1. What factors are involved in the separation of pigments?
One factor that is involved in the separation of pigments is the size of the pigments. The smaller the pigment is, the faster the pigment will travel and the easier it will be for the pigment to leave the plant. The bigger the pigment, the slower the pigment will travel and the longer it will be for the pigment to leave the plant because the pigment can’t fit so it will struggle to get out of the plant. Another factor is the amount of time the paper is in the bottle because the
Background: Leaves contain many pigments such as chlorophyll b, xanthophyll, and beta carotene besides chlorophyll a. They are part of the photosystem in the thylakoids. Pigment molecules can be separated by a procedure called chromatography. The procedure uses a special paper and solvent. The chlorophyll molecules adhere to the paper. The solvent molecules move up the paper by capillary action. Each chlorophyll molecule will travel up the paper at different rates.
Hypothesis: If chlorophyll is removed from the plant, then the different pigments in the plant can be visible.
Materials:
-Spinach -Coin -Chromatography paper
-Ruler -Bottle -Chromatography solvent -Napkin
Procedure:
1. Get materials
2. Open the bottle
3. Cut a piece of chromatography paper so that it fits in the bottle and a point on one end
4. Draw a pencil line 1.5 above the point
5. Roll a quarter over spinach which is on the pencil line. Let it dry. Repeat 3x
6. Place 1 cm of solvent in bottle
7. Place the paper strip so that the point of the paper strip just hits solvent
8. Let the bottle sit for 10 min
9. Open the bottle and take out the paper strip
10. Place the paper strip on the napkin
11. Measure solvent front and each pigment and determine each pigment’s color
Analysis of result:
1. What factors are involved in the separation of pigments?
One factor that is involved in the separation of pigments is the size of the pigments. The smaller the pigment is, the faster the pigment will travel and the easier it will be for the pigment to leave the plant. The bigger the pigment, the slower the pigment will travel and the longer it will be for the pigment to leave the plant because the pigment can’t fit so it will struggle to get out of the plant. Another factor is the amount of time the paper is in the bottle because the