Biological molecules can be separated by using chromatograph

Biological molecules can be separated by using chromatographic techniques. The diagram above shows the separation of several spinach leaf pigments by paper Using the diagram above Explain how paper chromatography can be used to separate pigments based on their chemical and physical properties. Discuss the role of pigments both in capturing light energy and in converting it to the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH. Use the ruler shown above to determine the R, value of carotene. Show your calculations.

Solution

A) Paper chromatography is a very important process which can be used to separate pigments based on their chemical and physical properties by capillary action. This can be done as the the smaller molecules usually travel up higher on the chromatography paper .On the other hand ,the larger molecules travel up lower on the chromatography paper.This is how the two get separated.

B)The various Pigments can absorb certain wavelengths. The term pigments are defined as the various chemical compounds that usually reflect only certain wavelengths of visible light. Moreover.each of the pigment usually reacts with only a narrow range of the spectrum not a very broad one.

Finally the most important aspect is to produce several kinds of pigments and making sure that each of pigment has a different color in order to capture more of the sun\'s energy.The next step is to ensure that the light energy is then converted to chemical energy like ATP and NADPH.This is very important.

C) The groups Rf values are:
Band 1- 25/55=0.46
Band 2- 26/55=0.47
Band 3- 18/55=0.33
Band 4- 27/55=0.49
Band 5- 07/55=0.13