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M&M Dye Spot Mobile

Candy Color Distance Phase Rf Value


Color (Inches) Distance
(inches)

Red 0.500 3.000 0.167

[R]

Yellow 1.250 2.183 0.444

[Y]

Orange 0.563 3.313 0.170

[O]

Blue 1.875 2.813 0.667


Yellow 1.438 2.813 0.511
[G]

1.625 2.813 0.578


Blue

[B]
1.813 2.813 0.645
0.750 2.813 0.267
Blue 1.375 2.813 0.489
Red
[Br] Yellow
M&M Dye Spot Mobile
Candy Color Distance Phase Rf Value
Color (in) Distance
(in)

Red 0.500 3.000 0.167


[R]
Orange 0.563 3.313 0.170
[O]

Yellow 1.250 2.813 0.444


[Y]

Blue 1.875 2.813 0.667


Yellow 1.438 2.813 0.511
[G]

Blue 1.625 2.813 0.578


[B]

Blue 1.813 2.813 0.645


Red 0.750 2.813 0.267
[Br]
Yellow 1.375 2.813 0.489

Approximately 12 M&M candies were obtained, 2 of each color (ROY G. B-Br).


The pairs with the same color were placed into 6 wells of a 12-well microliter
plate. Using a dropper, 3 drops of distilled water were added to each candy
well and were monitored for 1 minute. The candies were turned over during
this time so each side could dissolve into the water. Approximately 50 mL of
0.1% aqueous NaCl was obtained, 20 mL of this solution was poured into a
separate 400 mL beaker. The remaining solution was put aside. Next, the
candies from each well were removed from the plate using tweezers and
placed onto a paper towel once the candy coating had dissolved into the
water. A ruler and pencil were utilized to draw a straight line approximately 1
cm from the bottom edge of the 10 x 15 cm piece of chromatography paper.
Starting from the end of the line, 2-cm intervals were marked and labeled
with each segment with the different M&M colors. Using an open-ended
capillary tube, a dot no larger than 8 mm in diameter of the dye solutions
were applied to the chromatography paper above each color segment.
During this process the capillary tube was rinsed before spotting each color
by dipping it into distilled water and tapping 2-3 times on a clean paper
towel to avoid contaminating each dye solution. Once all the colors were
spotted onto the chromatography paper, the dyes were gently dried using a
hair dryer. Once dried, the chromatography paper was bent into a cylinder
and stapled at the top and bottom edges. The cylinder was carefully placed
inside the beaker of the NaCl solution to avoid touching the walls of the
beaker with the dye spots down near the liquid surface. The top of the
beaker was immediately covered with a watch glass. The cylinder was
observed and monitored while the solution gradually advanced up the paper
by capillary action. Once the solution reached 2 cm from the top (about 15-
20 minutes), the paper was removed from the beaker and gently pulled apart
from the top and bottom edges. Next, the paper was placed flat on a clean
paper towel to absorb part of the eluting solution. The solvent front was
traced with a pencil and one more time the paper was dried with low heat of
the hair dryer. The distances moved by the component and the distance
moved by the mobile phase font were measured from the spotting line to the
Rf
center of the spot. After measuring the relative proportions, the values
were calculated in each color of the dye(s) and recorded onto the data sheet.
Once the data was collected the remaining solution and M&Ms were poured
into the waste containers, the capillary tube was disposed into the glass
disposal box, and the microliter plate was washed with soap and water and
returned to the stockroom.

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