Paper Chromatography (CIE IGCSE Chemistry: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

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Paper chromatography

  • Chromatography is used to separate substances and provide information to help identify them
  • The components have different solubilities in a given solvent
    • E.g. Different coloured inks that have been mixed to make black ink
  • pencil line is drawn on chromatography paper and spots of the sample are placed on it
    • A pencil is used for this as ink would run into the chromatogram along with the samples
  • The paper is then lowered into the solvent container, making sure that the pencil line sits above the level of the solvent so the samples don’t wash into the solvent container
    • The solvent used is usually water but it can be other substances such as ethanol
  • The solvent travels up the paper by capillary action, taking some of the coloured substances with it
  • Different substances have different solubilities so they will travel at different rates, causing the substances to spread apart
    • Those substances with higher solubility will travel further than the others

How to carry out chromatography

The diagram shows the steps required to perform a paper chromatography experimentThe pigments in ink can be analysed using paper chromatography

Interpret simple chromatograms

  • We can use a chromatogram to compare the substances present in a mixture to known substances and make assumptions
    • Pure substances will produce only one spot on the chromatogram
    • Impure substances will produce more than one spot on the chromatogram
    • If two or more substances are the same, they will produce identical chromatograms
    • If the substance is a mixture, it will separate on the paper to show all the different components as separate spots
  • It is common practice to include a known compound as a reference spot
    • This can help match up to an unknown spot or set of spots in order to identify it

Example chromatogram results

The diagram shows the results of a chromatography experiment where brown ink has separated, showing a spot of red ink, blue ink and yellow inkThe brown ink has separated showing a spot of red ink, blue ink and yellow ink
 
  • We can draw several conclusions from this chromatogram:
    • The brown ink is a mixture as there are three dots
    • Red, yellow and blue are pure as there is only one dot for each 
    • The brown ink contains red, blue and yellow as the dots are in line with one another horizontally

Examiner Tip

Chromatograms in exams will be in black and white so to identify whether a mixture contains a known sample, the dots need to be in line with one another. 

Retention factor (Rf) values

Extended tier only

  • Rf values are used to identify the components of mixtures
  • The Rf value of a particular compound is always the same
    • However, it does depend on the solvent used
    • If the solvent is changed then the Rf value changes
  • Calculating the Rvalue allows chemists to identify unknown substances because it can be compared with the Rvalues of known substances under the same conditions
  • The retention factor, Rf, is calculated by the equation:

Rf = fraction numerator bold distance bold space bold moved bold space bold by bold space bold substance over denominator bold distance bold space bold moved bold space bold by bold space bold solvent end fraction 

  • The Rf value:
    • Is a ratio
    • Has no units
    • Will always be less than 1

Worked example

A student obtained the following chromatogram when carrying out chromatography. 

Using Rf values to identify mixture components, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Calculate the Rf value of the substance. 

Answer:

  • The Rf value of the substances in the chromatogram above can be calculated by:

    • Rf = fraction numerator distance space moved space by space substance over denominator distance space moved space by space solvent end fraction3 over 6 = 0.5

Examiner Tip

When you calculate Rvalues in exams, make sure to use your ruler carefully to measure the distance moved by the solvent and the substance as mark schemes can be strict about the values accepted for these. 

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.