Students use paper chromatography techniques to try to identify which major brand of black marker produced the color separation pattern shown here. Students participating in the TEAMS Science Chemistry Module have used paper chromatography to separate the pigments mixed in solution as "ink" in marking pens. The Mystery Pen challenge is a concept using activity which students may participate in. A prize will be awarded to the first classroom to correctly identify the pen used in this challenge.
The pen used to make this pattern was a black, water-based marking pen. It is
a major brand that can be found nationwide and is commonly found around schools,
often used by teachers more than students. Try several black markers and try to
match the pattern illustrated here. Three examples of the results are shown. Each
one is from the same marker. Multiple observations are an important way to corroborate
Materials for the activity:
black marker pens of several different brands
strips of filter paper
A strip of filter paper is used with a dot or line of color from the
marker drawn near one end.
The strip is hung in water so that one end of the strip just touches
the water, allowing the water to soak into the filter paper and rise
up toward the dot of color.
The line or dot of color should not touch the water, but the water will
rise and separate the pigments used to make the "ink" for that marker.
Different brands of markers will produce different color separation patterns
because different formulas have been used to produce the "ink" in the
Try several markers and see if you can find a brand that
matches the pattern shown above. Send me your ideas and solutions as
soon as you can. The first correct response wins a prize. All responses
will be answered. You can use the e-mail icon which is part of my electronic
classroom, or send e-mail to: firstname.lastname@example.org