Leaf Pigment Lab by THEODORE TURCZYN

Purpose

tturczyn — 2015-01-26 16:36:04 UTC

This experiment is to find out what color leaves contain the most pigments.

Hypothesis

tturczyn — 2015-01-26 16:38:37 UTC

If the leaf has more green, then it will have more pigment.

Method

adiestler — 2015-01-27 15:57:02 UTC

1. Take a piece of chromatography paper and cut a point at one end. Then draw a faint pencil line.

2.Tear a leaf into pieces about the size of a postage stamp.

3. Pour Ethyl of alcohol to the leaf pieces and crush leaves with the pestle.

4. Use a capillary tube and touch a drop of pigment extract to the center of the pencil line.

5. Pour chromatography solvent into the test tube. And place the paper inside.

6. Wait till the solvent is towards the top.

7. Measure the length the solvent went.

8. Measure the length the pigment moved.

Discussion

adiestler — 2015-01-27 15:57:08 UTC

We accept our hypothesis because according to the results of our experiment, the green leaf has more pigment and higher Rf values than the red leaf. The green leaf has three pigments, whereas the red leaf only had two. According to the chromatography paper, the green leaf showed visually more color than the red leaf paper.

If we were to do this experiment again, we would want to have more time to build up a better pigment spot so that the colors would show up more clearly. With the more clear pigment bands could be measured and identified much more clearly with more time. We would just like more time to do the experiment more slowly and properly.

Chromatography Strips from both leafs.

adiestler — 2015-01-30 15:57:08 UTC