Question

Which separation technique will you apply for the separation of the following?

Different components of ink

Answer 1

Separating different components of ink:

• An ink is a mixture of two or more coloured components which are water-soluble.
• The suitable technique to separate the different components of ink is paper chromatography.

Paper chromatography: When a strip of filter paper is used to carry out chromatography, it is known as paper chromatography.

• Chromatography: The technique of separation and purification of the different coloured components of a mixture due to the difference in their extent of solubility in the solvent (water for separating the components of ink) used for chromatography.
• Principle used in this technique is that the components to be separated are soluble in the same solvent but at different rates.

The component of ink which is the most soluble in the water rises quickly as water (solvent) moves through the filter paper and gets separated. Likewise, based on the solubility in water, all the components of the ink get separated.