Going Further

• After you've tried one marker, try others. What do you notice? Are the chromatography patterns the same among the markers?
• Make drawings with both permanent and water-soluble markers, then do the chromatography. What do you notice?
• Make chromatography t-shirts - http://apps.exploratorium.edu/blogs/summercamp/activity-descriptions
• Use alcohol instead of water to separate permanent marker pigments. Compare permanent marker chromatography with water-soluble marker chromatography.
• Separate the pigments in leaves by doing leaf chromatography. http://home.howstuffworks.com/science-projects-for-kids-classifying-plants.htm

Suggestions for Use

• Use to explore the differences between light and pigment
• Use to introduce plant chromatography
• Use in an art project
• Use in a lesson about biochemistry
• Use as part of a crime lab science lesson

Background Science

Color Chromatography
A web-based interactive where you mix and match millions of different background colors using just red, blue, and green.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/mix_n_match/
Ages: 9+

White Light and Colored Light
Two activities in which learners "take apart" white light and then "put it back together again."
http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/rfl/pdf/du_u02_white.pdf
Ages: 5+

Extending Paper Chromatography Inquiry
Learn how to make simple modifications to a standard paper chromatography lesson.
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/4/ss04_027_06_54
Ages: 11+

Molecular Expressions: Color Separation
An interactive simulation for introductory physics students that explores how individual subtractive primary colors can be separated from a full-color photograph.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/colorseparation/
Ages: 15+

Primary Colors of Light and Pigments
An interactive activity that teaches about the primary colors of light and pigment.
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/lsps07.sci.phys.energy.lightpigment/
Ages: 11+

How We See: The First Steps in Human Vision
Activities (and an article) exploring ancient vs. modern theories of vision.
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/vision_background.php
Ages: Educator

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