Question

How will you separate red and blue ink using chromatography?​

Answer 1

1. Red ink and blue ink have different dyes in them, that is their chemical compound is different.

2. So, when we put a mixture of red and blue ink on the chromatography paper, and run a solvent, we see that the two inks get separated due to the fact that they both contain different chemical compound.

3. The procedure is as follows:

- Take a Whatman filter paper and cut put a broad strip.
- Draw a line 1 cm above the edge of the paper.
- Put 2-3 drops of mixture of ink on the centre of the line drawn.
- Take a jar, add isopropyl alcohol in it, just to wet the surface. (Make sure that the solvent does not touch the line on the paper.)
- Put the strip in the jar, having the edge close to spot at the bottom.
- Allow the solvent to run by capillary action.

There will be two different inks on the paper running in the upward direction and after sometime, they will form two different spots, and trail is seen.