Respuestas
Mortar
Funnel
Flask
Filter paper
Alcohol
Spinach leaves
Extract the photosynthetic pigments and separate them using a simple technique of paper chromatography.
Wash the spinach leaves, remove the nerves and put them in a mortar, along with the alcohol and a small amount of calcium carbonate (which prevents the degradation of the photosynthetic pigments).
Grind the mixture until the leaves are discolored and applied in an intense green color. Photograph 1
Filter with a paper and filter paper. Photograph 2
Photograph 1
Photograph 2
Other students mashing spinach ...
Place the filtrate in a Petri dish, and on it at a distance of 15 centimeters wide by 10 centimeters high folded in the Petri dish. Photograph 3
Leave the assembly and wait a few hours. The pigments are separated according to their adsorption.Photography 4
Photograph 3
Photograph 4
When looking at the paper where we have done the chromatography, we see four bands or zones (figure A), which corresponds to the different photosynthetic pigments present in the spinach leaves. According to their degree of solubility with alcohol these bands are recognized and in this order:
chlorophyll b
chlorophyll a
xanthophyll
carotenoids
Figure A
This is the final aspect of chromatography with spinach leaves
NOTE: This experience may have other green leaves and spinach is not available. It is interesting to make this experience with other substances such as Indian ink.