Chromatography of Some Black Inks

**Waski_the_Squirrel** · April 27th, 2013, 04:24 PM

I teach science. My Chemistry class was recently doing paper chromatography, and I decided to bring my fountain pen ink collection to use this year. I couldn't let the kids have all the fun. Since they were setting up experiments with the brightly colored inks, I decided to test the blacks. I also tested a random overhead marker. This was done with acetone and with water as solvents.

This makes me sure that I like Noodler's Black. It's safe from any rampaging cups of coffee! I'm trying to slowly use up the other blacks at school. I keep one or two pens there and am inking them up with these. The plan is to reduce my ink collection by using up 3 bottles of black.

**Sailor Kenshin** · April 27th, 2013, 06:24 PM

Kewl. I love that rainbow effect.

**CS388** · April 27th, 2013, 07:52 PM

Nice.

What was on the test strips before the test? A line of ink drawn on, or a droplet or splat? Or?

Interesting to see the diversity.

Thanks.

**Waski_the_Squirrel** · April 27th, 2013, 09:31 PM

I drew a pencil line first. Then a line of ink. I was surprised was a thick line it made. (I used a glass pen or a glass stirring rod as an applicator.) The chromatography paper really sucked in the ink!