Scribd
Upload
47 views3 pages

Bio Lab #1

This lab report summarizes an experiment to identify pigments in a spinach leaf using chromatography. Key steps included grinding the leaf, performing chromatography on the pigment extract, and calculating Rf values. Three pigments were found: chlorophyll a (dark green), chlorophyll b (yellowish green), and carotene (orange). The results showed that the leaf appeared green despite containing multiple pigments due to chlorophylls absorbing mostly blue and red light while reflecting green light.

Uploaded by

Brianna Melbourne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
47 views3 pages

Bio Lab #1

This lab report summarizes an experiment to identify pigments in a spinach leaf using chromatography. Key steps included grinding the leaf, performing chromatography on the pigment extract, and calculating Rf values. Three pigments were found: chlorophyll a (dark green), chlorophyll b (yellowish green), and carotene (orange). The results showed that the leaf appeared green despite containing multiple pigments due to chlorophylls absorbing mostly blue and red light while reflecting green light.

Uploaded by

Brianna Melbourne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Lab# 1

Date:

Title: Photosynthesis and ATP Synthesis

Aim: To identify the pigments found in a spinach leaf.

Apparatus/Materials: spinach leaf, mortar and pestle, alcohol, sand, filter paper, pencil, ruler,
small capillary tube, 250ml beaker, Petri dish, stopwatch

Method:
1. Obtain a spinach plant and break up one of the leaves.
2. Place in a mortar and add a few drops of acetone or 70% isopropyl alcohol and add a
little sand to grind up the materials.Use the mortar and pestle to grind the leaf.
3. Cut a chromatography paper 8cm long and 2cm wide. Use a pencil to draw a line 2cm up
from the bottom of the paper (base line). The line must be drawn from one edge of the
paper to the next.
4. Use a pencil to mark a spot in the middle of the base line, called the loading spot.
5. Place a concentrated spot of pigment on the loading spot using a small pipette or capillary
tube. Let it dry. Repeat about 10 times to build up the pigment in the loading spot.
6. Pour the isopropyl alcohol or the acetone in a beaker. Ensure the solvent is less than 2cm
from the bottom of the container upwards. The solvent should not come in contact with
the loading spot.
7. Place chromatography paper in the solvent for 15 minutes and observe the movement of
the solvent font and the pigments up the paper.
8. After 15 minutes, remove the paper and mark where the solvent front reached on the
paper as well as the pigments. Use a pencil to mark the spots.
9. Measure the distance the ethanol travelled from the point of origin to where it stopped
which is distance travelled or moved by the solvent front.
10. Mark the front edge travelled by each pigment and measure how far each pigment
travelled or moved from point of origin.
11. Record data in a tabular form to show the name of the pigments and the Rf values.

Observation/Results:

Place a labelled drawing of the chromatogram here!

Paste the chromatogram on the sheet here. Label the pigments and the solvent font,
Calculations:
Calculate the Rf value for each pigment.

Rf = Distance moved by pigment/ Distance moved by solvent font

Draw a table to illustrate the result of the chromatogram.

TABLE SHOWING ____________________________________________________________

Pigment # Description Distance Distance Rf value Name of


of colour solvent font colour pigment
travelled travelled
(cm) (cm)

Discussion:
Guided questions:
1. Provide a definition and a formula for photosynthesis.
2. Explain the importance of light in photosynthesis (include definition of pigments and
their role in photosynthesis.
3. Explain how light enters the living world.
4. a) Which techniques were used to determine the pigments present in the spinach leaf?
(Include chromatography and Rf values).
b) Explain how each technique works. (Include why the beaker was closed when carrying
out the chromatography technique).
5. a) How many pigments were found in the spinach leaf?
b) Include the names and colours of the pigments found in your results. Also include the
wavelength at which each pigment absorbs light and which colour light is reflected by
each pigment.
6. Given that there were multiple pigments found in the spinach leaf, why did it look green?
7. What is the purpose of having multiple pigments?
8. Explain the results of your chromatogram by justifying the separation bonds. (Include:
The solubility of each pigment based on Chromatography and their Rf values- most
soluble, least soluble etc. Also include the Rf values in explanation).

Precautions (at least 2 required)


Limitations or Sources of error (at least 2 required)

Conclusion: It can be concluded that: (State which pigments were found, include their colours.
Also include the solubility of each pigment.)

Pigments in spinach leaves:

1. Carotene- orange
2. Yellow pigment- xanthophyll
3. Dark green pigment- chlorophyll a
4. Yellowish green pigment- chlorophyll b

Rf values for pigments

Pigment Rf value

Carotene 0.98

Chlorophyll a 0.30-0.59

Chlorophyll b 0.13- 0.42

Xanthophyll 0.15-0.35

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy