cintinative Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 (edited) The book I am following says to use several acetone-soluble lipsticks and compare the chromatography when the end of the filter strip is left in acetone. My trouble is that the one lipstick I have that is supposedly acetone-soluble per the book did not do anything after the strip soaked in acetone for 15 minutes (per the directions of the book). The other two lipsticks are not of the brands the curriculum mentions as acetone-soluble--I bought them to test since they were cheap (dollar store). So far, after about 30 minutes, no results on the acetone. If none of this is acetone soluble, any suggestions on what other medium I could use for chromatography? Someone suggested on Reddit to try an oil--so I am testing it with baby oil right now . . . Update: after 30 minutes, no result with the oil Trying a 50/50 mix of acetone/99% IPA Update: Fail Trying olive oil . . . Fail Trying denatured alcohol . . .Fail Tried acetone again, with chromatography strips only (not coffee filters) and it worked with one lipstick and possibly with one other. Very faint on the third. Edited July 31, 2018 by cintinative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Alcohol maybe? I've done chromatography with markers using water then alcohol to show different results. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted July 31, 2018 Author Share Posted July 31, 2018 35 minutes ago, Where's Toto? said: Alcohol maybe? I've done chromatography with markers using water then alcohol to show different results. Thanks! What kind? The 99%IPA/Acetone mix didn't work. Should I try just IPA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted July 31, 2018 Author Share Posted July 31, 2018 I am trying denatured alcohol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 43 minutes ago, Where's Toto? said: I've done chromatography with markers using water then alcohol to show different results. That's what we did as well. You can use strips of white coffee filters or paper towels hanging down into a cup of water for quick results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicentra Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Lipsticks are bound to be oil based but in order for chromatography to work, there has to be an attraction balance between the mobile phase (your solvent) and your stationary phase (your paper). Acetone and alcohol are probably both still too polar if the lipstick isn't at least somewhat water soluble. You might be able to get it to work with a completely nonpolar organic solvent but those are difficult to purchase outside of a lab, are usually quite flammable, and most are carcinogenic. Carbon tetrachloride comes to mind. Or pet ether (petroleum ether). You probably don't want to be using either of those in your kitchen, though. ? I would use the lab as a jumping-off point for discussions as to why it didn't work. The ink chromatography would be a good one to go along with forensic science. You could talk about identify inks as to components, etc. Good luck and have fun! ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted August 1, 2018 Author Share Posted August 1, 2018 13 hours ago, Dicentra said: Lipsticks are bound to be oil based but in order for chromatography to work, there has to be an attraction balance between the mobile phase (your solvent) and your stationary phase (your paper). Acetone and alcohol are probably both still too polar if the lipstick isn't at least somewhat water soluble. You might be able to get it to work with a completely nonpolar organic solvent but those are difficult to purchase outside of a lab, are usually quite flammable, and most are carcinogenic. Carbon tetrachloride comes to mind. Or pet ether (petroleum ether). You probably don't want to be using either of those in your kitchen, though. ? I would use the lab as a jumping-off point for discussions as to why it didn't work. The ink chromatography would be a good one to go along with forensic science. You could talk about identify inks as to components, etc. Good luck and have fun! ? Thanks! We are doing the ink chromatography also. You are right--I really would prefer not to use carbon tetrachloride. I saw something that mentioned a mix of hexane and ethyl alcohol and even that makes me a bit nervous. I am running the class with 10-14 year olds. I did get the acetone to work the second time around with two of the lipsticks. My set up must have been poor the first time. I am going to look for a third lipstick that works but if not, it will be useful for discussion as you stated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 I taught forensics at my high school for the first time last year. For our chromatography lab, we used markers. I tested out several different black markers to try to find at least three that looked the same on paper, but had different patterns with chromatography. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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