Why does some ink bleed through paper, and other ink doesn't? Practice some paper chromatography to separate the colors from a pen with an interactive experiment for middle and high schoolers. Learners use a variety of solutions to track how each color in the ink separates from the others, and note their observations in a lab report.

Concepts

chromatography, mixtures, solutions, capillary action, paper chromatography, pigments, solvents, solutes, solubility, the scientific method

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Create stations around your class for small groups to rotate through for different activities
• Integrate into an investigation class in which learners solve a mystery based on forensic clues
• Use the extension activities as homework projects or group assignments

Classroom Considerations

• Doesn't include a link to the video

Pros

• Includes opportunities for group work and individual reflect
• Provides hands-on aspects of the lessons, as well as textbook instruction
• Comes with all necessary lab sheets and graphic organizers
• Focuses on the steps of the scientific process

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.7.2.a W.7.5 W.8.2.a W.8.5 W.9-10.2.a W.9-10.5 W.11-12.2.a W.11-12.5