How To: Perform Paper Chromatography in the Chemistry Lab

Find out how everything in a chemistry lab works, from pipettes to burners to recrystallization to storage. You'll get precise instructions on how to work and perform certain scientific duties in the chem lab, whether it's chemical or just ordinary high school science.

Watch this video on how to perform paper chromatography in the chemistry lab. As an example of how to operate paper chromatography, the movie explains the analysis of Methyl Red and Methyl Orange (developing solvent: isobutyl alcohol (1), concentrated ammonia (1), and distilled water (50)).

In paper chromatography, filter paper serves as the stationary phase and support. The sample moves along with the developing solvent when the edge of filter paper is soaked into the solvent. Separation of the compounds takes place depending on their motilities.

Under fixed conditions including the stationary phase, the developing solvent, and temperature, the Rf value generally remains constant. Accordingly, the analytes are identified based on their Rf values as well as the shapes and colors of the spots.

Do not spot too many samples at once on a filter paper because a large spot gives improper results. Keep the filter paper clean by handling its end and putting it on a clean paper.