A dye is suspected to have contaminated a lollipop. Which of the following is the best method by which the contaminant may be isolated?
Answer Details
The best method to isolate a suspected dye contaminant from a lollipop is paper chromatography.
Paper chromatography is a technique used to separate and identify different substances based on their physical and chemical properties. In this technique, a small amount of the sample is placed on a strip of paper and then the paper is placed in a suitable solvent. As the solvent moves up the paper, it carries the different components of the sample along with it. The different components will travel at different rates based on their solubility in the solvent and their attraction to the paper.
In the case of a suspected dye contaminant in a lollipop, paper chromatography can be used to isolate and identify the dye by separating it from the other components of the lollipop. The lollipop can be dissolved in a suitable solvent, and a small amount of the resulting solution can be spotted onto a strip of paper. The paper can then be placed in a solvent that will carry the dye and other components up the paper at different rates, allowing the dye to be separated and identified.
Fractional distillation, recrystallization, filtration, and evaporation are not suitable methods for isolating a dye contaminant from a lollipop. Fractional distillation is used to separate different components of a liquid mixture based on their boiling points, but it is not suitable for separating a solid dye from a lollipop. Recrystallization is a technique used to purify solid compounds, but it is not suitable for isolating a dye from a lollipop. Filtration is a method used to separate solid particles from a liquid, but it is not suitable for isolating a dye from a lollipop. Evaporation is a process used to remove a solvent from a solution, but it is not suitable for isolating a dye from a lollipop.