Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry 1.11 Chromatograms
Practise reading chromatograms to compare dyes, spot positions, solubility and mixture composition from paper evidence.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2019
- Course
- Chemistry 4CH1
Practise reading chromatograms to compare dyes, spot positions, solubility and mixture composition from paper evidence.
A student uses paper chromatography to investigate the dyes in five different inks, V, W, X, Y and Z.
This is what she uses.
- a beaker
- a piece of chromatography paper with a pencil line drawn near the bottom of the paper
- a solvent
- inks V, W, X, Y and Z
The chromatogram shows the results for inks V, W, X, Y and Z.

Explain which ink contains a dye that is insoluble in the solvent.
- V
- because it stayed on the start line / did not move
Accept:
- blob / dot / mark for spot
- did not produce spots / did not separate
- has Rf value of 0
Marking guidance:
- Explanation mark depends on identifying V.
Explain which two inks contain the dye that is likely to be the most soluble in the solvent.
M1 X and Z
M2 as they both have a dye/spot that travelled the furthest (up the paper)
ALLOW both have spot closest to solvent front
ALLOW have highest Rf value(s)
M2 DEP on M1
Explain which two inks may contain only one dye.
- V and W
- because they both only form one spot on the paper
Accept:
- W only has one spot and cannot tell about V because it does not move / is insoluble
- the other inks / X, Y and Z form more than one spot