# Paper chromatography

Paper is used to separate mixtures of substances. These are often coloured substances such as food colourings, inks, dyes or plant pigments.

Paper chromatography

1. Water and ethanol solution is heated

## Phases

Chromatography relies on two different 'phases':

• the , which in paper chromatography is very uniform, absorbent paper
• the is the that moves through the paper, carrying different substances with it

The different substances in a mixture are attracted to the two phases in different proportions. This causes them to move at different rates through the paper.

## Interpreting a chromatogram

Separation by chromatography produces a .

A paper chromatogram can be used to distinguish between and impure substances:

• a pure substance produces one spot on the chromatogram
• an impure substance produces two or more spots

A paper chromatogram can also be used to identify substances by comparing them with known substances. Two substances are likely to be the same if:

• they produce the same number of spots, and these match in colour
• the spots travel the same distance up the paper (have the same Rf value)
Interpreting the chromatogram for a brown ink

In this chromatogram, the brown ink is made of a mixture of the red, blue and yellow inks. This is because the spots in the brown ink are at the same heights (and have the same Rf value) as the reference inks.

## Rf values

Rf values can be used to identify unknown chemicals if they can be compared to a range of reference substances. The Rf value is always the same for a particular substance.

The Rf value of a spot is calculated using:

Rf = $$\frac{\textup{distance~travelled~by~substance}}{\textup{distance~travelled~by~solvent}}$$

Rf values vary from 0 (the substance is not attracted at all to the mobile phase) to 1 (the substance is not attracted at all to the stationary phase).

Measurements needed in the formula