Question

The diagram below represents a chromatography experiment.
Chromatography is a word that means "color writing." It is a technique that can be used to separate the components of a mixture.
In this experiment, a marker was used to make a dot of a green ink on a piece of paper. The bottom edge of the paper was placed in water, and the water travelled vertically up the paper. As a result, the spot of green ink was separated into two colors: blue and yellow.
Which of the following is the BEST explanation for the fact that the blue ink moved farther up the paper than the yellow ink in this experiment?

• A. The density of blue ink is greater than the density of yellow ink.
• B. Blue ink is more soluble in water than yellow ink is.
• C. Blue ink has a smaller molar mass than yellow ink.
• D. Molecules of blue ink are smaller in size than molecules of yellow ink.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Blue ink is more soluble in water than yellow ink is.

As mobile phase move on the stationary phase, if the compound present on stationary phase is more polar, then it will become soluble in mobile phase as mobile phase is also polar, and mobile phase become able to remove the polar compound as soon as possible thus decrease elution time.

Thus if Blue ink travelled more than Yellow ink that means Blue ink is more soluble in water.