EXPERIMENT NO.

5
DATA AND RESULT

Conducted by: Group 1

Data and results prepared by: Honey Nhassie Marie G. Gonzaga

To calculate the Rf values of the dyes, use this formula:

Rf = Distance traveled by the component
Distance traveled by the solvent (water)
Note:
The distance traveled by the component is the distance from the start (center of the
original spot) to the center of the new colored band. The distance traveled by the solvent (water)
is the distance from the start (center of the original spot) to the edge of the paper (because this
is where the water stopped moving which is called the solvent front).

Dye Components Distance traveled by the Distance traveled by the Rf

component alone (cm) water (cm) Value

1 Methyl Orange 5.2 (Figure 1) 5.2 (Figure 2) 1

2 Methyl Blue 1.6 (Figure 3) 5.2 (Figure 4) 0.308

Figure 1: Distance traveled by Figure 2: Distance traveled by the

methyl orange alone water

Figure 3: Distance traveled by Figure 4: Distance traveled by the

methyl blue alone water
Ratio of Rf values where the dyes Rf (1) 1
traveled alone: = = 3.25
Rf (2) 0.308

Dye Components Distance traveled by the Distance traveled by the Rf

component in mixture water in mixture (cm) Value
(cm)
1 Methyl Orange 5.5 (Figure 5) 5.5 (Figure 6) 1
2 Methyl Blue 1.3 (Figure 7) 5.5 (Figure 8) 0.236

Figure 5: Distance traveled by Figure 6: Distance traveled by the

methyl orange in mixture water in mixture

Figure 7: Distance traveled by Figure 8: Distance traveled by the

methyl blue in mixture water in mixture

Ratio of Rf values where the dyes Rf (1) 1

traveled in mixture: = = 4.237
Rf (2) 0.236
CONCLUSION:
The purpose of this experiment is to observe how chromatography can be used to
separate mixtures of chemical substances and find their Rf values (dyes traveled alone
and in mixture). We used water as the solvent. The dyes used were methyl orange and methyl
blue. When the two dyes were mixed together, dark colored (somewhat black) dye resulted.
We made some changes while conducting the experiment. We used a dropper instead
of a capillary tube, therefore, there is an increase of volume applied in contrast to the volume
of each dye suggested in the experiment (about 0.005 mL). We solved for the Rf (retention
factor) values of each dye when traveled alone and in mixture. The purpose of finding the Rf
value is to determine the affinity or relation of the solute to the solvent. Rf values are
always less than 1 (Kumar, 2016). An Rf value of 1 or too close to it means that the spot
and the solvent front travel close together and is therefore unreliable. This happens when
the eluting solvent is too polar for the sample. Methyl orange has a Rf value of 1 in our
experiment, this is because, as shown in the pictures, the solvent and the methyl orange reached
the edge of the paper. If larger filter paper was used or if only small amount of dyes were
applied, clear results might be shown- the exact distance traveled by methyl orange and the
exact distance traveled by water.
Nevertheless, we can still conclude that though there’s no exact distance traveled
by methyl orange and water, methyl orange has larger Rf value. And as shown in the
pictures taken, methyl orange moved faster and is less polar than methyl blue (smaller Rf
value).
The significance of this experiment for us future chemical engineers, is that we must
understand all about solutions and mixtures and their components because most experiments
done especially when it is for the purpose of improving, for example, our main advocacy, the
groundwater quality involved the preparation of solutions to test contaminated water. If we
know how to separate the invisible chemicals that contaminate our water, we might discover
some remediation methods to clean it.
To improve this experiment, we suggested to use larger filter paper so clear results will
be shown. Also, using a capillary tube is much better than manual dropper to control the volume
of solute.
Attached herewith is the photo evidence of the the results formulated in this experiment.