A chemistry student conducts a paper chromatography experiment to separate the pigments in a water-soluble black marker using water as the developing solvent. When the solvent front nears the top of the chromatography paper, three distinct bands are observed: a blue spot near the pencil baseline, a red spot in the middle, and a yellow spot closest to the solvent front. Based on the principles of chromatographic separation, which conclusion accurately explains the observed distribution of the pigments?

A) The blue pigment has the highest solubility in the mobile phase, which prevents it from ascending further up the paper strip.

B) The yellow pigment has the greatest affinity for the mobile phase, while the blue pigment interacts most strongly with the stationary phase.

C) The red pigment has a molecular mass strictly intermediate between the other two dyes, which forces it to settle midway.

D) The separation occurs primarily due to differences in the boiling points of the pigments as the liquid solvent evaporates.

Chromatography Transitional Reasoning Practice

Chemistry · Matter · Chemistry · Separation of Mixtures

1 Chemistry practice questions on Chromatography. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.

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Matter · Chemistry

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