Question

Do red leaves also contain green pigments? Investigate it using paper chromatography.

Answer 1

Aim: To find out whether red leaves also contain green pigments using paper chromatography.

Principle: Paper chromatography separates different pigments in a mixture based on their solubility in a solvent and movement through paper. Different pigments travel at different speeds, forming separate bands.

Materials Required:

• Red leaves (e.g., croton or coleus)
• Chromatography paper or filter paper
• Alcohol (ethanol or spirit)
• Mortar and pestle
• Capillary tube or dropper
• Beaker
• Pencil

Procedure:

• Crush red leaves using a little alcohol to extract the pigments.
• Place a small drop of the extract near the bottom of chromatography paper.
• Suspend the paper in a beaker containing alcohol, making sure the spot does not touch the solvent directly.
• Allow the solvent to rise slowly up the paper.
• Observe the separation of pigments as different coloured bands.

Observation:

• Several coloured bands appear on the paper.
• A green band is usually seen along with red, yellow, or orange bands.

Result: Yes, red leaves also contain green pigment (chlorophyll) along with other pigments like anthocyanins.