Apologia Chemistry: Module 4 Paper Chromatography and Marbling paper and rocks

Update 11/5:  The kids marbled rocks.  We poured water into large yogurt cups and covered the tables with  kids poured nail polish on to the surface of the water and missed it with toothpicks.  Then, they dipped the rocks into the water and marbled them.  We tossed everything into a garbage bag into the trash.  Pix are below.

Update 10/29: We did both the paper chromatography and colorful lather activity. Warning!  Colorful lather prints are messy.   Pix are below.


Paper Chromatography lab is one of the optional MicroChem kit.  On Tuesday next week, we're doing the paper chromatography lab, JCE's Colorful Lather Prints, and Water Marbling Nail Art.  Colorful Lather Prints has a little science background and a few questions.  I grouped these three labs together because they're all artsy.  All of them are fun and relatively inexpensive.  I took a pix of the materials below.

Paper Chromatography can be performed with food dyes, colored markers, and pens.  We're using several black pens (on hand), water-based colored markers, and food coloring.  I have coffee filters and filter paper to cut into strips.  The kids will use both water and isopropyl alchol (rubbing alcohol) as solvents.  I have ethanol (ethyl alcohol) on hand if the rubbing alcohol doesn't work with the pens.

The lather prints require shaving cream, index cards, food dyes, toothpicks, and rulers.  (I'll post pix next week.)

The Water Marbling Nail Art requires nail polish, tape, and containers for the water.  I'm hoping the yogurt containers work; I won't mind if these are stained with nail polish.  I bought the nail polish because I don't wear polish.  You may have some on hand.