Class XI Practical: Physiology - Chromatography to Separate Plant Pigments

Objective

To separate different photosynthetic pigments (e.g., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, xanthophylls) from a plant extract using paper chromatography.

Guidelines

Pigment Extraction: Grind fresh leaves (e.g., spinach) with a suitable solvent (e.g., acetone or ethanol) and a small amount of sand to obtain a crude pigment extract.
Chromatography Setup:
- Draw a pencil line near one end of a chromatography paper strip.
- Apply a concentrated spot of the pigment extract onto the pencil line.
- Place the paper strip in a chromatography jar containing a suitable solvent mixture (e.g., petroleum ether and acetone) ensuring the solvent level is below the pigment spot.
Separation: Allow the solvent to ascend the paper, separating the pigments based on their differential solubility and adsorption to the paper.
Observation: Once the solvent front reaches near the top, remove the paper and mark the solvent front. Observe and identify the separated pigment bands by their characteristic colors.
Calculation (Optional): Calculate Rf values for each pigment.

Expected Outcome

Successful separation of plant pigments into distinct bands on the chromatography paper, demonstrating the principle of chromatography.

Class XI Practical: Physiology - Chromatography to Separate Plant Pigments

Objective

To separate different photosynthetic pigments (e.g., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, xanthophylls) from a plant extract using paper chromatography.

Guidelines

Pigment Extraction: Grind fresh leaves (e.g., spinach) with a suitable solvent (e.g., acetone or ethanol) and a small amount of sand to obtain a crude pigment extract.
Chromatography Setup:
- Draw a pencil line near one end of a chromatography paper strip.
- Apply a concentrated spot of the pigment extract onto the pencil line.
- Place the paper strip in a chromatography jar containing a suitable solvent mixture (e.g., petroleum ether and acetone) ensuring the solvent level is below the pigment spot.
Separation: Allow the solvent to ascend the paper, separating the pigments based on their differential solubility and adsorption to the paper.
Observation: Once the solvent front reaches near the top, remove the paper and mark the solvent front. Observe and identify the separated pigment bands by their characteristic colors.
Calculation (Optional): Calculate Rf values for each pigment.

Expected Outcome

Successful separation of plant pigments into distinct bands on the chromatography paper, demonstrating the principle of chromatography.

Practical Guideline - Chromatography

Class XI Practical: Physiology - Chromatography to Separate Plant Pigments

Objective

Guidelines

Expected Outcome

On this page

Practical Guideline - Chromatography

Class XI Practical: Physiology - Chromatography to Separate Plant Pigments

Objective

Guidelines

Expected Outcome

On this page