Rainbow Candy Chromatography with Skittles and M&Ms

Rainbow Candy Chromatography: Use M&M’s or Skittles and filter paper to separate the different dyes used in candies

Description: Get ready for a colorful adventure as we delve into the world of candy chromatography! In this experiment, we will explore how different candies contain hidden mixtures of colors and how we can separate and identify these colors using a process called chromatography. It’s time to uncover the vibrant hues hidden within our favorite sweets!

Scientific principles:

1. Chromatography and Molecular Properties: Discover the science behind chromatography, where we separate mixtures based on the varying affinities of their components for different substances. We’ll observe how candy dyes dissolve and interact with the chromatography paper, leading to the separation of colors.
2. Solubility: Learn how different candy dyes dissolve in water and interact with the paper, allowing us to separate them into distinct bands of color.
3. Pigment identification: Analyze the resulting chromatograms to identify and learn about the pigments present in the candies we test. We’ll see how different candy colors are composed of a mixture of pigments.

Equipment needed:

• Various candies with colored coatings (Skittles, M&M’s, Smarties, etc.)
• Coffee filters or chromatography paper strips
• Small cups or glasses
• Water
• Pipettes or droppers
• Pencils or clips
• Tape
• Scissors

Equipment difficulty rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3 out of 5) – Most items are readily available at home, but you may need to ask an adult for assistance with scissors and potentially getting coffee filters or chromatography paper strips.

Experiment difficulty rating (for a middle-aged child): 🌟🌟 (3 out of 5) – The experiment is relatively simple and can be completed with adult supervision. It involves basic steps and does not require complex techniques.

Experiment description:

1. Gather all your materials on a clean table or workspace. Make sure you have adult supervision throughout the experiment.
2. Prepare the chromatography paper:
   1. Take a coffee filter or a strip of chromatography paper and cut it into a long, thin strip.
   2. The strip should be about 2-3 centimeters wide and long enough to reach from the cup to the table when hung vertically.
3. Choose your candies:
   1. Select different candies with colored coatings. It’s fun to pick candies with a variety of colors.
4. Set up the cups:
   1. Take the small cups or glasses and fill them about halfway with water. You’ll need one cup for each candy color you’re testing.
5. Place a candy in each cup:
   1. Take one candy of a specific color and place it gently in one of the cups with water.
   2. Make sure the candy is fully submerged in the water.
6. Observe the candy dissolving:
   1. Watch as the candy starts to dissolve in the water. Observe any changes in color or the release of colors into the water.
7. Prepare the chromatography paper:
   1. Take the prepared strip of chromatography paper and attach one end to a pencil or clip using tape. This will help you suspend the paper in the cup.
8. Hang the paper strip in the cup:
   1. Place the pencil or clip across the top of the cup, so the paper strip hangs vertically in the water.
   2. Make sure the bottom of the strip touches the water, but the candy itself doesn’t touch the paper.
9. Observe the water moving up the paper:
   1. Watch as the water starts to move up the paper strip. The water will carry the dissolved dye along with it.
10. Let the chromatogram develop:

• Allow the water to move up the paper strip until it reaches the top or almost the top.
• This may take a few minutes, so be patient and observe the changes happening.

1. Remove the paper strip:

• Carefully remove the paper strip from the cup, making sure not to touch the wet part.

1. Let the paper strip dry:

• Lay the paper strip flat on a clean surface and let it air dry completely. It usually takes around 15-30 minutes to dry.

1. Repeat the process:

• Repeat steps 5 to 12 with different candies of different colors. Use a new strip of chromatography paper for each candy.

1. Examine the dried chromatograms:

• Once all the paper strips are dry, compare them side by side.
• Observe the different colors and patterns on each strip.

1. Discuss your findings:

• Talk about what you see on the chromatograms. Which colors separated the most? Are there any colors that didn’t move at all?
• Try to identify the pigments responsible for the different colors on the chromatograms.

Remember to have fun, ask questions, and discuss your observations with an adult or your classmates. Enjoy the exciting world of candy chromatography and the magic of discovering hidden colors within your favorite candies!

Note: Remember to ask an adult for help with scissors and supervise the experiment. 

Simple Explanation:

When we put a candy in water, the water makes the colors in the candy spread out. Imagine it like the candy colors are saying, “Let’s explore!” The water carries the colors up the paper strip and helps us see different colors. It’s like a race where the colors separate and show us what they’re made of. We can then look at the paper strip and see all the colors that were hiding inside the candy!

Detailed Explanation:

During the experiment, we are using a process called chromatography to separate the different colors in the candy. Chromatography works because each color in the candy has its own unique properties. When we place the candy in water, the water acts as a carrier, and it dissolves the dyes or pigments that make up the candy’s color.

As the water moves up the paper strip, it carries the dissolved dyes with it. But here’s the interesting part: each dye has a different affinity or attraction for the paper. Some dyes have a stronger attraction to the paper fibers, so they move more slowly and don’t travel as far up the strip. Others have a weaker attraction, so they move faster and travel higher up the strip.

This separation happens because the paper acts as a stationary phase, meaning it doesn’t move, while the water acts as a mobile phase, carrying the dyes. As the water moves up the paper, it drags the dyes along, but the dyes with stronger affinities for the paper get “stuck” and don’t travel as far.

By examining the dried chromatogram, we can see the different colors that were present in the candy. The separated bands of color on the strip allow us to analyze and identify the various pigments or dyes that make up the candy’s coating.