Setting Up an Educational Column Chromatography Experiment from Home

Abstract

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the separation of the primary colors of ink markers and food coloring was performed using a simplified column chromatography setup at home to accomplish the educational outcome of the course. The virtual class instruction, for the students enrolled in the Organic Techniques Laboratory course, allows the understanding of the basic principles of chromatography in a way similar to that in the face-to-face experience. The materials proposed for conducting the experiment are readily available at home or easily found in a drugstore or in a grocery store. A wide variety of results were observed where the separation of at least two primary colors was achieved by 80% of the students.