Chromatography Butterflies
Fri, Apr 19, 2013
Materials: White coffee filters, non-permanent markers, pipe cleaner, cup of water
Activity: Use black or brown marker to draw a thick circle around the center of the coffee filter where the ridged part meets the flat center. Fold the coffee filter in quarters, and form into a cone. Place the cone in a cup of water, where only the tip of the cone touches the water. Watch the water flow up the filter, and the colors separate! Dry filter. Make it look like a butterfly by gathering the filter in at the middle and tying a pipe cleaner around it to make a butterfly body and antenna. Suspend butterfly with yarn. Make more butterflies using different markers and compare them!
Research Questions: How does the brand of marker affect which colors separate? Color of marker? Type of paper (typing paper, tissue paper, paper towel)?
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