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Chlorophyll Extraction

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Summary

Areas of Science
Difficulty
 
Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
The page on Paper Chromatography Resources lists the best papers and solvents for chromatography. The paper needs to be specially ordered and is available from our partner Amazon.com.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
The solvents, like acetone or alcohol, for paper chromatography should be used in well-ventilated areas. Adult supervision is recommended.
*Note: For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

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Abstract

Chlorophyll is a natural pigment found in green plants. It is the primary pigment that absorbs light energy from the sun for photosynthesis. This energy is then used by the plant to synthesize glucose from carbon dioxide and water. Chlorophyll in the leaves of plants can be extracted and separated using chromatography. A good source of chlorophyll for an extraction is a dark green leafy vegetable like spinach. Rub a fresh spinach leaf on the bottom of a strip of filter paper. You can get a good dark smear of green by using a coin. When you see a dark line of chlorophyll, dip the bottom of the strip into a solvent like rubbing alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover). What happens to the chlorophyll? Are there other pigment molecules in the leaf? What would happen to leaves collected during other seasons? Try an experiment to compare different colors of fall leaves: green yellow orange and red. Some species of trees and bushes have red or yellow leaves all year round. What would their pigment and chlorophyll molecules look like after being separated? What about the difference in chlorophyll levels between young leaves and old leaves? The young leaves will be at the tip of the stem, while older leaves will be at the base of the stem near the branch. What happens to the chlorophyll in leaves that have been blocked from sunlight? You can use dark paper and tape or a paper lunch bag to cover a leaf and block out the sunlight. Will this change the chlorophyll components of the leaf? What can these experiments tell you about the regulation of chlorophyll production in plants? (VanCleave, 1993, 107-112; Science Buddies, Discover Chlorophyll Variety in Different Plants Using Paper Chromatography

Bibliography

  • VanCleave, J. 1993. Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Biology. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Clark, Jim. (2007). Paper Chromatography. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
This resource will give you more information about the history of chromatography, and teach you about the types of chromatography used in research labs today:
icon scientific method

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Global Connections

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

This project explores topics key to Life on Land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

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General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Chlorophyll Extraction." Science Buddies, 20 Nov. 2020, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p020/plant-biology/chlorophyll-extraction. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2020, November 20). Chlorophyll Extraction. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p020/plant-biology/chlorophyll-extraction


Last edit date: 2020-11-20
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