IB Biology SL C1.3.4 Photosynthetic Pigment Separation Questions

Practise IB Biology SL 1.3.4 by using thin-layer chromatography, pigment distances and Rf values to identify photosynthetic pigments.

Exam points

Explain how pigment solubility or affinity for the mobile and stationary phases separates photosynthetic pigments into distinct bands.
Calculate or interpret Rf as pigment distance divided by solvent-front distance, then compare values or colours with standards to identify pigments.
Describe the extraction and chromatographic procedure, including a suitable solvent, baseline spotting and development of separated bands.

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What does the $R_{f}$ value in thin layer chromatography represent?

The distance travelled by the pigment front in a fixed time period

The distance from the origin to the solvent front at the end of the experiment

The ratio of distances travelled by the pigment and solvent fronts

The concentration of the pigment applied to the chromatography plate

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