Carolina ChemKits®: Food Dye Chromatography

Students gain practice with separation technique with this comprehensive, easy-to-use kit. First, students analyze 3 FD&C food dyes using paper chromatography and calculate their retardation factors. Then, they analyze the chromatograms of 3 drink mixes. Students will identify the FD&C dyes present in the drink mixes using retardation factors and visual inspection. This activity requires approximately 50 minutes to complete. Kit materials are sufficient for a class of 10 groups of students.