Materials List: Fun with Leaf Chromatography!

For Day 1: Introduction/Motivation

Each student needs:

Teacher needs:

  • 2 purple skittles (any color can be used, but purple had better results than most colors
  • clear glass straight sided jar or glass container, ~475 mL (16 oz.)
  • ruler
  • scissors
  • piece of chromatography paper 50 mm x 125 mm (or coffee filter paper), examples available online: https://www.amazon.com/Whatman-3030-6189-Cellulose-Chromatography-Length/dp/B005FM4YYQ
  • 6 mL isopropyl alcohol
  • 10 mL graduated cylinder
  • piece of 75 mm x 75 mm inches aluminum foil
  • 1 mL dropper (plastic or glass)
  • 3 mL pipette (or toothpick)
  • pencil
  • small binder clip

For Day 2: Outdoor Investigation

Each group needs:

For Day 3: Running Chromatography

Each group needs:

  • Chromatography #1 Worksheet (*optional, student can write it in their journal)
  • Exit Ticket (1 ticket per student)
  • leaves collected by students
  • 2 mortars and pestles (or wooden spoon and jar), 60 cm in diameter
  • 2 clear glass straight sided jars or glass containers, ~475 mL (16 oz.)
  • plastic wrap to cover the top of the jars
  • 2 10-mL graduated cylinder
  • container of 6-10 mL of isopropyl alcohol (or solvent of choice)
  • 8 pieces of chromatography paper 50 mm x 125 mm (or coffee filters)
  • 2 mini binder clips (or mini clothespins)
  • safety goggles (1 per student)
  • 2 rulers

For Day 4: Running Chromatography

Each group needs:

  • Chromatography #2 Worksheet per student (*optional, student can write it in their journal)
  • 3-5 leaves collected by the teacher for testing
  • 2 mortars and pestles (or wooden spoon and jar), 60 cm in diameter
  • 2 half-pint canning jar with lid (or glass cup with saran wrap to cover the top)
  • 2 10 mL graduated cylinders
  • container of 6-10 mL Isopropyl alcohol (or solvent of choice)
  • 8 pieces of chromatography paper 50 mm x 125 mm (or coffee filters)
  • Saran wrap
  • 4 mini binder clips (2 per pair)
  • goggles (1 per student)
  • pair of safety gloves (1 per student)
  • pencil (1 per student)
  • ruler (2 per group)

For Day 5: Create Reflection Project (Post-assessment)

Each group needs:

https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/uot-2460-fun-leaf-chromotography-activity