Andrew Fowler
Bio-111
4/21/14
Photosynthetic pigments

Abstract:

In the experiment that will follow, you will be learning that visible light is composed of different colors of light. You can hypothesize that leaves contain various pigments that absorb solar energy of these different colors.
Introduction:

This specific experiment was done to show what chromatography really does. It separates the pigments located in leaves, chromatography separates the molecules from each other based on their solubility in particular solvents. The following solvents are used: Petroleum ether and acetone as nonpolar. The more nonpolar a pigment, the more soluble it is in a nonpolar solvent and the faster it moves up the paper.

Materials and Methods:

The materials and methods needed for this experiment are as follows: 1. Assemble a chromatography apparatus. To do this, obtain a large dry test tube and a cork with a hook. Attach a strip of precut chromatography paper to hook and test for how it fits. For perfect fitment, the paper should hang straight down and barely touch the bottom of the test tube, if you need to trim it then do so. After that, measure 2 cm from the bottom of the chromatography paper, place there a small dot with a pencil, make sure it is not a pen. With a stopper in place, mark 1 cm below where the dot is on the paper. Then set the chromatography apparatus in a test tube rack.
2. Remove the paper, place on a dry paper towel and apply plant pigments to the dot on the paper. In the fume hood add chromatography solution to the mark you made on the tube. Place the paper back in the apparatus and allow 10 minutes for the chromatogram to develop, check frequently though so