IV.

Results and Discussion

During the execution of the experiment, the students were instructed to macerate pechay leaves
with acetone using a mortar and pestle. According to Shaw (2006), “most photosynthetic
pigments are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents such as ether, acetone and
chloroform.” Therefore, upon adding the solvent system to the filter paper containing the stripe
of leaf extract, the pigments started to separate.

Based on the observation made, the pigment that travelled the fastest was the yellow pigment
called ​xanthophylls. ​Below the yellow color band was the blue-green pigment called chlorophyll
a t​ hen followed by the pigment located at the bottom, the yellow green pigment called
chlorophyll ​b. ​From the results shown in the experiment, the ​xanthophylls ​are more soluble as it
​ nd ​b. ​Included in the desired outcome of
travelled the farthest in comparison with chlorophyll ​a a
the experiment was the appearance of the orange color band made of pigments called
carotenoids. ​However, when the experiment was performed, the orange color band was failed to
be seen in the filter paper. The students believe this phenomena is due to possible certain
factors such as “the density of the pigment, the affinity for the paper used, and the solubility of
the pigment in the solvent” (Price, S.A., n.d).

V. Conclusion
After recording the data and conducting the experiment, the students therefore conclude that
there are factors to be considered in doing the experiment. Moreover, with the factors in mind,
an experiment may not all the time produce all the desired or expected result of the certain
experiment.
In addition, the students therefore conclude that the process of chromatography is vital in
determining which pigments are present in a specific plant because each pigment have different
degrees of solubility. Also, “these differently colored pigments absorb different colors of light: by
having many pigments, plants can use more of the light energy shining down on them”
(Education.com, 2014).

VI. References
Price, S. A. (n.d.). Chromatography and Photosynthesis. Retrieved December 4, 04, from
https://www.scribd.com/doc/23698685/Chromatography-and-Photosynthesis

University of Manitoba. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2018, from

http://umanitoba.ca/Biology/BIOL1020/lab5/biolab5_2.html

Education.com. (2014, January 29). Leaf Chromatography | Science project. Retrieved

December 4, 2018, from
https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/find-color-pigments-hidden-green/