Chromatography of Plant Pigments
CHROMATOGRAPHY OF PLANT PIGMENTS
Marquez, Ma. Rica Paulene, Moises, Patrisha Kate, Policarpio, Jairus Paolo, Rolda, Zylene Joy
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio
April 23, 2013
ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to apply the technique of paper chromatography as a method for separating individual plant pigments contained in plant tissue extracts containing pigment blends. The process of chromatography separates molecules because of the different solubilities of the molecules in a selected solvent. In paper chromatography, paper marked with an unknown, such as plant extract, is placed in a beaker covered with a foil containing a specified solvents. The solvent carried the dissolved pigments as it moved up the paper. The pigments were carried at different rates because they were not equally soluble. The most soluble pigment traveled the longest distance while the others traveled in a shorter length. The distance of the pigment traveled was unique for that pigment in set conditions and was used to identify the pigment. The ratio was then used to measure the Rf (retention factor) value. |
INTRODUCTION
As primary producers in the food chain with some bacteria and algae, plants produce their own food by using the sun’s energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose. In this process of photosynthesis, plants convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy that is stored in the bonds of the glucose molecule. Glucose is a simple carbohydrate that provides immediate fuel to cells but it is also a building block for more complex carbohydrates stored by living organisms for future use. For photosynthesis to transform light energy from the sun into chemical energy (bond energy) in plants, the pigment molecules absorb light to power the chemical reactions. Plant pigments are macromolecules produced by the plant, and these pigments absorb specified wavelengths of visible light to provide the energy
Marquez, Ma. Rica Paulene, Moises, Patrisha Kate, Policarpio, Jairus Paolo, Rolda, Zylene Joy
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio
April 23, 2013
ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to apply the technique of paper chromatography as a method for separating individual plant pigments contained in plant tissue extracts containing pigment blends. The process of chromatography separates molecules because of the different solubilities of the molecules in a selected solvent. In paper chromatography, paper marked with an unknown, such as plant extract, is placed in a beaker covered with a foil containing a specified solvents. The solvent carried the dissolved pigments as it moved up the paper. The pigments were carried at different rates because they were not equally soluble. The most soluble pigment traveled the longest distance while the others traveled in a shorter length. The distance of the pigment traveled was unique for that pigment in set conditions and was used to identify the pigment. The ratio was then used to measure the Rf (retention factor) value. |
INTRODUCTION
As primary producers in the food chain with some bacteria and algae, plants produce their own food by using the sun’s energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose. In this process of photosynthesis, plants convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy that is stored in the bonds of the glucose molecule. Glucose is a simple carbohydrate that provides immediate fuel to cells but it is also a building block for more complex carbohydrates stored by living organisms for future use. For photosynthesis to transform light energy from the sun into chemical energy (bond energy) in plants, the pigment molecules absorb light to power the chemical reactions. Plant pigments are macromolecules produced by the plant, and these pigments absorb specified wavelengths of visible light to provide the energy
Cited: * Mcmurry, John. 2010. Foundations of Organic Chemistry. Pasig City, Philippines: Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd. * Thompson, R. 2008. Illustrated guide to Home Chemistry experiments. Canada: O’ Reilly media. Page 109 * Clark, J. 2007. http://chemguide.co.uk/analysis/chromatography/paper.html. Retrieved April 22, 2013 * Unknown.PlantTravelingLab. TTU/HHMI at CISER.2010 . http://www.ciser.ttu.edu. * 2010.04-20-13. * Unknown. separation of pigments by paper chromatography.http://www.hsu.edu/pictures.aspx?id=1653, n/a. 04-20-13 * Unknown.plant pigment analysis. https://www.msu.edu. n/a. 04-20-13 * http://apnewtechbiology.wordpress.com/lab-6-plant-pigments/ * http://www.biologyjunction.com/chromatography_of_simulated_plan.htm ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS