Description
Use thin layer chromatography to separate and identify amino acids
- Study the thin layer chromatograms of 3 amino acids
- Calculate the retardation factor for each amino acid
- Separate and identify an unknown mixture of amino acids
Students practice their thin layer chromatography technique on 3 known amino acid samples, reinforcing theory and technique. They calculate the retardation factor for each amino acid and make conclusions about the structure and properties of each amino acid based on its Rf value. Students then separate an unknown mixture of amino acids and use their previous data and observations to identify the amino acids present in the sample. Kit includes materials to perform the activity 4 times with 10 groups of students.