Photosynthetic Pigments and Chromatography

Set up a chromatography tank

with the chromatography
solvent (propanone) at the
bottom to a depth of 1cm.

Dip the leaves in

boiling water.

After you finish this

process, do not mix the
separate solids with the
liquid on top.

Cut a piece of chromatography

paper which fits in the tank
without touching the sides and
which can dip in the solvent
when the tank lid is on.

Cover the tank and

leave it to saturate.

Put leaves in a
mortar. (Exclude
the stalks and
petioles)

Add 20cm of
propanone
(acetone).

Keep the chlorophyll

extract in the dark, in ice
until needed.

Grind up the
leaves to make
concentrated
extract.

Using a fine pipette, extract a

drop of pigment solution and
place it on the pencil cross;
then let it dry.

Draw a cross in the middle of

the chromatography paper
(with a pencil) at a height of
1.5cm

Transfer the liquid into a

centrifuge tube and
centrifuge it for 2-3
minutes.

Repeat this process as

many times as possible
until extract becomes
concentrated.

Step 1: Prepare the

Chromatography paper and jar with
solvent

Step 2: Extract and collect the

KEY
pigments
from the leaves.
Place lid on the jar (make
Attach
sure that the pigment
chromatography
extract is above the solvent
paper to lid.
level)
Step 3: Spot the pigment onto the
Chromatography paper

When the solvent has almost

reached the top of the paper,
mark the point where the
solvent reached.

Dry the
chromatogram.