A student that is sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, was told to test three
different colors of markers. The student placed three different colors on a sheet of
chromatography paper, as shown in the diagram. The student also tested a different color of
marker, labeled the “unknown” to determine if the color marker was made from other colors.
The student prepares the experimental setup by using chromatography paper (a polar material)
and putting the paper in a nonpolar solvent. The results of the experiment (the “developed
chromatograms” are shown on the right.
(1) Which color of marker is the least polar? Justify your answers in terms of the IMF
interactions between the color dyes and the solvent or between the color dyes and the
paper.
(2) Which dye(s) is/are present in the unknown sample? Justify your answer.
(3) What was the most likely color of marker that the student tested?