During paper chromatography, what occurs if a dye in the ink is insoluble in the solvent used?

During paper chromatography, what occurs if a dye in the ink is insoluble in the solvent used?

• A. It cannot be separated
• B. It will stay on the baseline
• C. It will dissolve quickly
• D. It will evaporate instantly

Answer: (B)

When a dye in the ink is insoluble in the solvent used during paper chromatography, it will indeed remain on the baseline. This is because the fundamental principle of chromatography relies on the differential solubility of the components in a mixture in the chosen solvent. If a component is insoluble, it cannot migrate up the chromatography paper because it does not interact with the solvent. Thus, this dye will not be carried along with the mobile phase and will instead stay at the point where it was originally applied—the baseline. This characteristic helps in identifying which components are present in the mixture based on their solubility and movement on the chromatography medium.

When a dye in the ink is insoluble in the solvent used during paper chromatography, it will indeed remain on the baseline. This is because the fundamental principle of chromatography relies on the differential solubility of the components in a mixture in the chosen solvent. If a component is insoluble, it cannot migrate up the chromatography paper because it does not interact with the solvent. Thus, this dye will not be carried along with the mobile phase and will instead stay at the point where it was originally applied—the baseline. This characteristic helps in identifying which components are present in the mixture based on their solubility and movement on the chromatography medium.