Innovating Science® Chromatography of Amino Acids

Learn about amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and how to separate and identify them using paper chromatography.

• Students will perform a paper chromatography experiment on 3 known amino acids, and then use their results to identify the components of an unknown amino acid mixture.
• Aligned to NGSS Practices
• Performance expectations: MS-PS1-2, HS-PS1-3
• Disciplinary core ideas: PS1.A, PS1.B
• Cross cutting concepts include Patterns
• Engineering practices include planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence

Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of all proteins. Often times scientists may need to identify the amino acid contained in a protein. One such method for separating and identifying individual amino acids is paper chromatography. In this activity, students will perform a paper chromatography experiment on three known amino acids, and then use their results to identify the components of an unknown amino acid mixture. This kit contains enough material for 15 groups. Teacher's Manual and Student Study Guide copymasters are included.

Delivery information: Instructor's manual and SDS included.

Caution: This product can expose you to chemicals including Methanol/Methyl isobutyl ketone, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.