Ink Separation Lab

In this lab, we took some simple ingredients: filter paper, markers, water, something to hold the water, and a small paper towel. First, we took multiple colors and drew something simple onto the filter paper. From there, we poked a hole into the center of the filter paper and put a piece of rolled of paper towel into the hole so that some may be sticking out on both sides. Next, we got our small container and put water in it. Filter paper (and paper towel, now in it) were placed above the water so that the paper towel may absorb the water and carry it up, spreading the water out onto the filter paper, mixing the colors across it. We noticed something funny about the colors, though! It seems that yellow is always closest to the center, and blue is always on the outer edge! From this, we concluded that the molecules in the yellow ink are heavier, and the molecules in the blue ink are much lighter, allowing for them to spread further.