# A student uses paper chromatography to separate the dyes in two fruit drinks, labelled P and Q. The solvent travels 8.0 cm from the baseline. Drink P produces a single spot that travels 6.0 cm. Drink Q produces three spots that travel 2.0 cm, 4.0 cm and 6.0 cm respectively. Using your knowledge of chromatography, explain what these results tell the student about the two drinks.

> WJEC GCSE Chemistry (Wales) — 1.5 Rate of chemical change · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Drink P is a pure substance / contains only one compound (one dye / one component)
2. A pure compound produces a single spot in a solvent
3. Drink Q is a mixture / contains more than one compound (dye / component)
4. The components in drink Q separate because they have different solubilities in the mobile phase / travel at different speeds in the solvent / are distributed differently between the mobile phase and the stationary phase

## Key terms

- [paper chromatography](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/paper-chromatography)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC GCSE Chemistry (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-uses-paper-chromatography-to-e639f305) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.