This week we learned about the laboratory technique of chromatography. This is where the different components(parts) of a mixture can be separated out. We looked at different inks which all looked the same but had been made with different colour dyes. We were able to separate the inks out using chromatography. Capillary action in the chromatography paper showed the true colours of each the inks. Measuring the distances from the base of the chromatography paper and calculating the volume of water needed to fill the beaker to the bottom line were important mathematical skills involved in our experiment. We learned that chromatography is often used in the pharmaceutical industry to check the purity of medicines.
Togher Boys' National School 