Having a go at chromatography
In this hands-on activity, students use paper chromatography to separate the dye pigments in coloured sweets. This introduces students to chromatography and helps them to understand how scientists find toxins in substances.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
explain chromatography in simple terms
demonstrate how chromatography works using paper chromatography.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
student handout
extension ideas.
Related content
Explore why dogs died on Auckland beaches in 2009 and take a look at how shellfish are monitored for toxins. Dr Paul McNabb was part of the team looking at these species using his expertise in liquid chromatography, one of the tolls used in measuring toxicity.
Chemicals everywhere – everything you can breathe, see, ingest or touch is made up of chemicals. All matter, including us, is made of chemicals.
The activity, Food colouring uses a simple paper chromatography method to separate and identify the components present in commercially available food colouring.
