Chemistry 0620 · IGCSE
Chromatography
88 practice questions on Chromatography, with worked solutions and instant marking.
A sample of green food colouring was separated into its individual colours by paper chromatography. The results are shown. What is the $R_f$ value of the blue spot?
Feb/March 2016
A student is carrying out chromatography on a coloured mixture. At which position should the student apply the coloured mixture?
Feb/March 2017
Chromatography is carried out on a mixture that contains a drug. The drug has an $R_f$ value of $0.66$. The diagram is not drawn to scale. Which spot on the chromatogram shows the drug?
Feb/March 2018
The chromatogram for substance S is displayed. Distances W, X, Y and Z are marked on the diagram. How is the $R_f$ value of substance S determined?
Feb/March 2019
Chromatography is used to separate and identify the components of mixtures that are coloured as well as those that are colourless. When the mixture is colourless, the chromatogram must be treated with another chemical. What is the name of this kind of chemical?
Feb/March 2020
Two food colourings, X and Y, are examined by chromatography. Three pure dyes, 1, 2 and 3, are also examined. The chromatogram is shown. Which of the following statements are correct?
Feb/March 2021
The diagram illustrates a chromatogram produced from the colours of three distinct sweets, X, Y and Z. How many separate red dyes are found in the sweets?
Feb/March 2023
The diagram shows a chromatogram produced from the colours of three different sweets, X, Y and Z. How many different red dyes are found in the sweets?
Feb/March 2023
Substance Q is examined by paper chromatography. The chromatogram obtained is shown. Which statement is correct?
Feb/March 2024
Which statement regarding paper chromatography is correct?
Feb/March 2025
Paper chromatography can be used to separate a mixture of soluble substances. The $R_f$ value can then be used to identify each substance. Which formula is used to calculate the $R_f$ value?
Feb/March 2025
A sample of a dye is examined using chromatography. A line is marked across a strip of chromatography paper, and a spot of the dye is added to it. The paper is then put into water. Which row is the correct one?
May/June 2016
In the chromatography experiment illustrated, which label indicates the solvent front?
May/June 2016
Chromatography experiments are performed on four substances, P, Q, R and S. The same solvent is used for each experiment. The chromatograms produced are shown below. Which statement is incorrect?
May/June 2016
A sample of a dye is examined using chromatography. A line is drawn across a strip of chromatography paper, and a spot of the dye is put on the line. The paper is then placed in water. Which row is correct?
May/June 2016
The chromatogram shown below was produced using four different dyes. Which dye has an $R_f$ value of $0.7$?
May/June 2016
In the chromatography experiment shown, which label indicates the solvent front?
May/June 2016
X is a mixture of colourless compounds. The diagram presents a chromatogram for X and for three pure compounds, P, Q and R. Which statement is incorrect?
May/June 2016
Chromatography tests are performed on four substances, P, Q, R and S. The same solvent is used for every test. The chromatograms produced are shown. Which statement is not correct?
May/June 2016
The diagram illustrates the apparatus used for separating the various components of a mixture using chromatography. Which statement about this experiment is correct?
May/June 2016
The chromatogram below was produced by separating four substances using chromatography. Which one of the substances has an $R_f$ value of $0.6$?
May/June 2017
The diagram illustrates a chromatogram containing four substances. Which substance has an $R_f$ value of about $0.32$?
May/June 2017
A student carried out chromatography to investigate a green food colouring. The chromatogram produced is shown. The table gives some yellow food dyes and their $R_f$ values. Which yellow food dye is present in the green food colouring?
May/June 2017
By what means can the amino acids in a protein be separated and identified?
May/June 2017
Chromatography is a method for separating coloured dyes. Which dye has an $R_f$ value of $0.7$?
May/June 2018
A chromatography experiment was carried out in order to separate a mixture containing four substances. The $R_f$ values found for these substances were $0.3$, $0.5$, $0.8$ and $0.8$. Which diagram represents the chromatogram produced?
May/June 2018
Paper chromatography is carried out in the same manner using three separate dye mixtures. Each mixture includes at least one of the dyes W, X, Y and Z. The $R_f$ values for the dyes in the three mixtures are given. Which conclusion is correct?
May/June 2018
Chromatography is used to separate the colours found in four dyes. Which chromatogram shows a colour that is insoluble?
May/June 2019
Which diagram indicates the correct solvent level at the start of a chromatography experiment?
May/June 2019
A student carries out paper chromatography to work out which food dyes are present in a coloured sweet, S. Four known food dyes, W, X, Y, and Z, are used, with ethanol as the solvent. The chromatogram obtained is shown. Which of the statements are correct?
May/June 2019
The results of a chromatography test involving substance F are displayed. The diagram is not to scale. What is the $R_f$ value of F?
May/June 2019
$R_f$ values are used in paper chromatography to identify unknown substances. Which of the following statements about $R_f$ values are correct?
May/June 2019
Which of the following statements about paper chromatography is correct?
May/June 2021
Which statement concerning paper chromatography is correct?
May/June 2021
Which statement regarding paper chromatography is correct?
May/June 2021
Which of the following statements about paper chromatography is correct?
May/June 2021
A mixture of colourless compounds is separated by chromatography. Which kind of reagent is used to identify these compounds after they have been separated?
May/June 2021
Which statement concerning paper chromatography is accurate?
May/June 2021
Which of the following statements about paper chromatography is correct?
May/June 2021
Paper chromatography is used to separate four different coloured inks W, X, Y and Z, together with an unknown ink T. The chromatogram is shown. Which inks can be found in ink T?
May/June 2022
A chromatogram for a single substance T is displayed. Which distances are measured to determine the $R_f$ value of T?
May/June 2022
Paper chromatography separates four differently coloured inks, W, X, Y and Z, together with an unknown ink T. The chromatogram is shown. Which inks are contained in ink T?
May/June 2022
Chromatography is used to separate mixture Y, together with dyes E, F, G and H. The chromatogram is shown. Which dyes are contained in mixture Y?
May/June 2023
Which chromatogram illustrates how the $R_f$ value of a substance is calculated?
May/June 2023
Two compounds, M and N, are dissolved in water and then separated by chromatography. The results are displayed. What is the $R_f$ value of M, and which compound is the more soluble in water?
May/June 2023
The chromatogram produced from a chromatography test on substance S is displayed. Distances shown on the chromatogram are $4.5\ \text{cm}$, $4.7\ \text{cm}$, $6.0\ \text{cm}$ and $1.8\ \text{cm}$, and the solvent front and baseline are marked. What is the $R_f$ value of S?
May/June 2023
Substance X together with four known substances, P, Q, R and S, is tested using chromatography. The chromatogram obtained is shown. Which statement about X is correct?
May/June 2024
Which of the following statements about chromatography is accurate?
May/June 2024
Four pure substances, P, Q, R and S, are examined by chromatography. The same solvent is used in every case. The table gives the distance travelled by each substance and by the solvent from the baseline. Which two substances are identical?
May/June 2024
On Fig. 4.1, circle one functional group that shows that this compound is unsaturated.
May/June 2024
Chlorophyll is a green pigment present in plants. It is required for photosynthesis.
May/June 2024
Which diagram illustrates the correct solvent level at the beginning of a chromatography experiment?
May/June 2025
Three coloured inks, P, Q and R, are examined by paper chromatography. The chromatogram is displayed. Which statement is correct?
May/June 2025
A mixture containing four different colourless amino acids is separated using paper chromatography. The resulting chromatogram is shown. Why are only three spots visible on the chromatogram?
May/June 2025
In paper chromatography, which equation is used to determine the $R_f$ value?
May/June 2025
The outcomes from a chromatogram are displayed. Distances covered: Solvent: $5.0\,\text{cm}$ Substance X: $3.0\,\text{cm}$ Substance Y: $2.5\,\text{cm}$ Which row shows the $R_f$ values for substance X and substance Y?
Oct/Nov 2017
A student performed paper chromatography on a mixture containing amino acids. After the chromatogram had dried, the student applied a locating agent by spraying it on. What function does the locating agent serve?
Oct/Nov 2017
Paracetamol is made by synthesising it from 4-aminophenol. Chromatography was performed on an impure paracetamol sample. The outcome is shown below (not to scale). The paracetamol sample contained only 4-aminophenol as the impurity. What is the $R_f$ value of 4-aminophenol?
Oct/Nov 2017
A liquid floor cleaner contains the following substances: coloured dyes, ethanol, preservatives and sodium carbonate.
Oct/Nov 2017
Which statement concerning paper chromatography is correct?
Oct/Nov 2018
The chromatogram for four dye mixtures, P, Q, R and S, is displayed. What is the overall number of different dyes identified in the four mixtures?
Oct/Nov 2018
Four different food colourings are separated by chromatography. Their outcomes are displayed on the chromatogram. The diagram is not drawn to scale. Which food colouring contains a component with an $R_f$ value of $0.3$?
Oct/Nov 2019
Substance Q was examined by chromatography. The chromatogram is shown below. The diagram is not drawn to scale. What is the $R_f$ value of Q?
Oct/Nov 2019
A substance is separated by chromatography, and the chromatogram is shown. Which statement is incorrect?
Oct/Nov 2019
This question concerns dyes.
Oct/Nov 2019
In the chromatography experiment illustrated, which label indicates the solvent front?
Oct/Nov 2020
In the chromatography experiment illustrated, which label indicates the solvent front?
Oct/Nov 2020
In the chromatography experiment illustrated, which label indicates the solvent front?
Oct/Nov 2020
A mixture containing colourless amino acids is separated by chromatography. The solvent employed is propanol, and the chromatogram is then sprayed with a locating agent. Which row states the function of the propanol and the locating agent?
Oct/Nov 2020
In the chromatography experiment shown, which label indicates the solvent front?
Oct/Nov 2020
A chromatography experiment is used to investigate the pigments found in four distinct leaf types. The student doing the experiment forgot to finish the results table, which is shown below. Which row shows the values of $F$, $G$ and $H$?
Oct/Nov 2020
In the chromatography experiment illustrated, which label shows the solvent front?
Oct/Nov 2020
In the chromatography experiment illustrated, which label indicates the solvent front?
Oct/Nov 2020
The apparatus for a chromatography experiment is shown. Which line indicates the solvent’s initial depth in the beaker?
Oct/Nov 2022
A coloured dye is separated using chromatography. One constituent of the dye travels a distance of $13\,\text{cm}$ and has an $R_f$ value of $0.86$. How far did the solvent front travel?
Oct/Nov 2022
The chromatogram produced from four substances, J, K, L and M, is shown. Which statement about M is correct?
Oct/Nov 2022
The chromatogram for four separate substances is displayed. Which pure substance has the greatest $R_f$ value?
Oct/Nov 2022
The chromatograms for four different dyes are shown. How many distinct colours are found in the four dyes?
Oct/Nov 2023
The painkiller paracetamol is made from 4-aminophenol. Chromatography is carried out on an impure paracetamol sample. The outcome is shown. The diagram is not to scale. The paracetamol sample contains only 4-aminophenol as the impurity. What is the $R_f$ value of 4-aminophenol?
Oct/Nov 2023
Substance Q is analysed by chromatography. The chromatogram is shown below. The diagram is not to scale. What is the $R_f$ value of Q?
Oct/Nov 2023
Paper chromatography uses $R_f$ values to help identify unknown substances. Which of the following statements about $R_f$ values are correct?
Oct/Nov 2023
Dyes are substances that have colour. The chromatogram for substance X and four dyes, 1, 2, 3 and 4, is displayed. Substance X has only two of the dyes 1, 2, 3 and 4 in it. Which pair of dyes is found in substance X?
Oct/Nov 2024
The chromatogram for substance S is shown. The diagram labels four distances, W, X, Y and Z. How is the $R_f$ value for substance S worked out?
Oct/Nov 2024
Chromatography is used to analyse four dyes, P, Q, R and S. The solvent is water. The chromatogram obtained is shown below. Which statement concerning the dyes is correct?
Oct/Nov 2025
W is a blend of coloured dyes. It is believed to contain dyes P, Q, R or S. A sample of W is separated using chromatography. The chromatogram is shown. What information does the chromatogram provide?
Oct/Nov 2025
A student carries out paper chromatography to identify the food dyes in coloured sweet S. Four known food dyes, W, X, Y and Z, are used, with ethanol as the solvent. The chromatogram produced is shown. Which of the following statements are correct?
Oct/Nov 2025
Chromatography is used to separate and analyse mixtures of soluble substances. The first steps in the method are given: place the sample on the baseline; allow the chromatogram to develop in solvent. What is the next stage in the process for detecting soluble colourless substances?
Oct/Nov 2025
A colourless mixture is separated using paper chromatography. The method is described in the steps below, but they are not arranged in the right sequence. 1 Take the chromatography paper out of the solvent when the solvent front is close to the top of the paper. 2 Put the chromatography paper into the solvent. 3 Spray the chromatography paper with a locating agent. 4 Put a spot of the mixture on the pencil line. 5 Draw a pencil line along the bottom of the chromatography paper. 6 Draw a pencil line to show the position of the solvent front. What is the correct sequence for these steps?
Oct/Nov 2025