Marker Chromatography (Separating Mixtures)

Uncover the hidden rainbow of colors inside a simple black marker. 

What you need:White coffee filters, washable markers (black and brown work best), a glass, water, and salt. 

Steps:

• Cut a coffee filter into a long strip.

• Draw a thick dot or line with a black washable marker about an inch from the bottom of the strip.

• Pour a shallow layer of water (about half an inch) into the bottom of the glass.

• Lower the bottom edge of the filter strip into the water, making sure the marker line stays above the water level.

• Watch the water creep up the paper over 20–30 minutes and observe the black ink separate into multiple colors.