Question

a forensics expert analyzes the ink of handwriting on a piece of paper. the ink has yellow, red, and blue pigments in it. the relative size of each ink molecule is listed in the chart in nanometers(nm) from smallest (yellow) to largest (red).
yellow blue red
50 nm 200 nm 300 nm
if the forensics expert performs chromatography on the ink sample, in what order from the bottom to the top would the ink pigments appear on the chromatography paper?
red, blue, yellow
blue, red, yellow
yellow, blue, red
they will all be on the same line

Explanation:

Step1: Understand chromatography principle

In chromatography, smaller molecules move faster up the chromatography paper.

Step2: Compare molecule sizes

Yellow (50 nm) is the smallest, blue (200 nm) is medium - sized, and red (300 nm) is the largest.

Step3: Determine order

Since smaller molecules move faster, the order from bottom (slowest) to top (fastest) is based on size. The largest (red) moves slowest (bottom), then blue (medium), then yellow (smallest - fastest).

Answer:

Red, blue, yellow