Colorful Column Chromatography: A Classroom Demonstration of a Three-Component Separation

A classroom demonstration detailing the procedure for the separation of a ternary mixture consisting of intensely colored compounds using silica gel column chromatography is described. The audience can follow the compounds during their passage through the column as individual, colored bands while learning about different tools and techniques used in conjunction with column chromatography. Detailed instructions for column preparation and the elution and collection process are provided and permit the easy replication of this demonstration.