Chalk Chromatography Easy Science Project

It's easy to separate the pigments in an ink or a dye using nothing more complicated that a piece of chalk and some rubbing alcohol. Draw a line on the chalk, set it in a dish of alcohol and watch the color get carried away and separated by the alcohol.

This simple type of chromatography separates pigments based on their solubility and size. Large or insoluble pigments won't go very far in the chalk, while smaller or more soluble pigments can be expected to travel more quickly and further through the "filter." More complex types of chromatography also separate molecules on the basis of other attributes, such as electric charge.

Some inks work better than others for this project. I used Sharpie permanent markers, which travel up the chalk well, but don't contain a wide range of colors. Some of the Crayola markers work really well. Food coloring and leaf pigments are other options you can explore.

Find more of my projects at chemistry.about.com (Anne Helmenstine) and my music at Amazon (as Azareal). Thanks for watching!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• easy
• science projects
• arts
• chalk
• pigments
• simple
• project
• anne helmenstine
• chemistry
• ink
• dyes
• alcohol
• middle school
• grade school
• kids

[MegaPrincess1998]

Hey... What if we do this. and could get color chalk?

[futsang]

@MegaPrincess1998 That would be really cool, but the color doesn't seem to saturate the chalk. If you break a piece, the dye is just around the outside (or it was for me anyway).

[BouncingFerretFilms]

cute hands

[Gottaluvhim987]

Can u make.tons more vjdeos i love themmmm¡!!!!!

[MegaPrincess1998]

@futsang Okei ;p

[xTREMELAN999]

CHAMPION



[MewMewPumpkinPie]

aaaah ^-^ we did thi with coffee filters... probably 8 years ago xD

[tacoterminator]

Woah, might do this! What would happen if you made multiple layers of the marker in different colors?

[kazerdaze]

weiner

[rocketgypsyqueen]

Third