Extract and separate the pigments

1. Use a mortar and pestle to grind a handful of spinach leaves in 20 ml of acetone and a pinch of sand.
2. Decant off the spinach extract and pour through cheese cloth if necessary.
3. Place a spoonful of Spirulina powder into 10 ml of acetone and shake vigorously to extract the pigments
4. Using an applicator, spot the pigment extract to a silica gel strip. Apply the extract about 2 cm from the bottom of the strip. Remember to keep the spot small. Apply and dry at least 10 times in the same place, remembering to let the spot dry after each application.
5. Place the silica gel strips in beakers containing about 15 ml of chromatography solution (2 isooctane: 1 acetone: 1 diethyl ether).
6. develop the strips until the solvent reaches about 2 cm from the top

Chromatography Analysis

1. How many different pigments separate from the spinach extract? From the spirulina?
2. Are all pigments represented between the two extract?
3. The mobile phase is non-polar, what are the properties of each pigment?
4. Measure the R_f of each pigment.