Chromatography Chlorophyll Lab Introduction Background Leaves are green

Chromatography/ Chlorophyll Lab

Introduction: Background : Leaves are green because of the chlorophyll pigment that you can see. It is involved in the process of photosynthesis. However chlorophyll is not the only pigment. Chromatography is the process that will separate out all of the pigments.

: Purpose: What colors do you think the leaves will have inside besides green? Hypothesis I think that the other pigments will be the following colors: I think the green (chlorophyll) from the Spinach Leaf will move to the (top/ middle/ or bottom) of the paper because: ……

Materials: (per group) 1. Chromatography paper 2. leaf 3. Alcohol (solvent) 4. Ruler 5. Test Tube 6. Coin

Procedures 1. Take the chromatography paper and draw a dot at 5 mm (1/2 cm) from the bottom. 2. Put the spinach leaf on the line and roll a coin back and forth in a straight line to squeeze the juices (chlorophyll) out of the leaf onto the paper. (Repeat using more of the leaf if necessary) Allow this to dry. 3. Place the chromatography in the beaker so that the alcohol is below this line. 4. Remove the paper when the solvent reaches the top.

Data Substance/ Pigment Solvent (clear) Measure the distance each pigment moved. Carotenes (yellow From the dot to and orange) where the color Lutein (gray) stops. Xantholphylls (yellow) Chlorophyll a (bluegreen) Chlorophyll b (yellow-green) Distance Moved

Data Analysis 1. Which pigment seems to be the most abundant judging by the darkest? 2. Why do some pigments go farther than others? 3. Do you think the results would be the same if you used a different kind of green leaf and why?

Error Analysis Did you make any mistakes or what could you do better next time? What would you do differently next time or what else would you want to try?

Conclusion Where does chlorophyll come from in the leaf? Why do leaves look green when there are so many other colors in them? Why do leaves change colors in fall? What do you think is happening.