Experiment 11 — Unmix the Ink

Topic: Chemistry · Class 9 · Separation techniques: chromatography

Aim: Separate the black ink into its separate coloured dyes .

Daily: Forensic scientists match inks from a forged document this way, food laboratories detect illegal dyes in sweets, and pathology labs separate the pigments and chemicals in blood.

Question: Where should the ink spot be placed on the paper strip?

Exp: If it is submerged, the dyes dissolve into the beaker instead of travelling up the paper.

Question: Chromatography separates substances by differences in…

Exp: Each component moves at its own rate.

Question: Black ink separating into colours shows that it is…

Exp: Pure substances do not separate.

Question: Two miscible liquids with different boiling points are separated by…

Exp: Fractional distillation if the points are close.

Question: Oil and water are separated using a…

Exp: Immiscible liquids form separate layers.