Plant Pigment Chromatography AP Investigation 5: Photosynthesis – Part I
Chromatography Technique used to separate a mixture into its component molecules The molecules migrate, or move up the paper, at different rates because of differences in solubility, molecular mass, and hydrogen bonding with the paper.
Chromatography Set-Up
Analyzing the Chromatogram Migration of pigment relative to migration of solvent is a constant (Rf) Each pigment has a different Rf (reference front) value
Calculating Rf Values
Distance pigment migrated (mm) Distance solvent migrated (mm) Data Table Band # Color Distance pigment migrated (mm) Distance solvent migrated (mm) Rf Value 1 “purple” 35 mm 70 mm 0.5 2 3 4 5
Known Spinach Pigments & Rf Values Carotene - 0.98 Chlorophyll a - 0.59 Chlorophyll b - 0.42 Xanthophyll - 0.28
Pigments in Spinach Leaves Color Rf Value Chlorophyll a Bright green 0.59 Chlorophyll b Olive, yellow-green 0.42 Carotene Yellow-orange 0.98 Xanthophyll Yellow 0.35 Anthocyanin (not visible) Reddish Near bottom (0)