Are All Reds Red?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this project was to determine if all reds contained the same pigments and had the same physical characteristics. Methods/Materials I ran a simple paper chromatography test using BAW (butanol, acetic acid, and water) and water on isopropanol extracts of red ribbon, rose, tulip, carnation, ginger, and ripe jalapeno pod. I used a spectrophotometer to look at the solutions and determine if they had the same absorption patterns. Results The first observation that I made was that the isopropanol extracts varied. The next observation that I was able to make was that the different solvents that I used for my paper chromatography produced different chromatograms. I found from my paper chromatography tests that each of the red extracts were made up of different colored pigments. When I looked at my chromatograms under UV (ultraviolet) light I was able to see differences from when I looked at the same chromatograms under visible light. I looked at my extracts using a spectrophotometer, and found that the extracts all had unique absorption patterns. Some of my extracts did have peaks in similar places, but the height of those peaks differed. I used R(f) (ratio of fronts) to show that the extracts contained similar patterns of pigmentation. Conclusions/Discussion From this research I was able to conclude that all reds are not made up of the same pigments. I was able to prove this through paper chromatography, R(f)s, and spectrophotometric analysis.

Competition history

• CSEF 2003 Chemistry · Entry J0525

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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