Pigments in a leaf and chromatography.

The pigments of a green leaf, from an Elm tree, were processed using Thin Film Chromatography and the chromatogram shown on the right.

Pigment "A" represents chlorophyll A while Pigment "B" represents chlorophyll B.
Pigment "C" represents xanthophyll

Calculate the Rf value of each of the pigments.

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Two leaves from an ornamental vine were taken and the pigments extracted and processed using Thin Film Chromatography. A green leaf and a red leaf were selected. The chromatogram is shown on the right with the green leaf on the right and the red leaf on the left.
Click on the picture to see a larger image of the chromatogram.
Assuming the solvent has risen 8.6 cm up the chromatography paper:
-calculate the Rf value of pigment A.
-calculate the Rf value of pigment B
Is this pigment chlorophyll B?
Is pigment "B" also found in the Elm tree?

A dried Elm leaf was processed and the chromatogram shown on the right.

How many pigments are visible?
Identify this pigment.


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Design an experiment to answer the following questions.
Do red leaves contain the green pigment chlorophyll?
Are the pigments found in red leaves also present in green leaves?
Do different plants have different types of chlorophyll?
Does a leaf that has been kept in the dark quickly lose its chlorophyll? If so how many days does it take?
Ask your teacher for more ideas and how to set up a scientific investigation.
Click if you wish to find out how to run a chromatogram and refresh yourself with thin film chromatography.