Washable (water-soluble)
Markers (several colors and several brands, if possible)
Water
Rubbing alcohol
White paper
napkins/towels/coffee filters
Scissors
Hair dryer
shallow bowls/small
jars
digital camera
Getting
started
Draw a design
on a napkin. What do you think will happen to the designs if a corner of the
paper is put in water or alcohol?
Put some water
in some of the bowls, and some rubbing alcohol in the others (be very careful
of fire and poison risk).
Put either a
corner or an edge of the napkins in a bowl, being careful not to get the ink
itself wet.
Also mark some
narrow strips of paper about one inch from one end, each with a dot of ink
from a different brand or a different color marker.
Place the marked
end of each strip in a jar with a little alcohol or a little water, being
sure the ink does not touch the liquid.
Try the same
inks in both liquids.
Be sure to label
which jar has which marker and liquid.
Take picures
of your "starting materials." Watch what happens, and take pictures
after certain intervals.
When colors
have separated and the solution has traveled almost to the edge of the paper,
remove the papers from the liquid and blow them dry gently with the dryer.
What happened?
What next
Creation
and invention:
Use markers
and chromatography to create art
Make a chart
or graph of all the colors making up a certain color of marker, comparing
brands.
Try chromatography
with drops of food coloring and/or candy
coatings
