Forensic Biochemist

Click for salary, education, & more: Forensic Biochemist (bioquímico forense)

You found a note at the crime scene – who wrote it? Forensic biochemists find out using a technique called chromatography to analyze inks and dyes. Try this fun forensic biochemistry experiment to see how chromatography works!

Materials Needed:

• Paper towels
• Scissors
• Bowl of water
• Tape
• Markers

Directions:

1. Cut the paper towel into 6 strips, each about one inch wide. 
2. With one of the markers, draw a line about an inch up from the bottom of the paper towel. 
3. Repeat for all the markers.
4. Label the paper towel strips so you know which strip goes with which marker.
5. Put the very bottom tip of each paper towel strip into a bowl of water. The ink should be near but NOT touching the water. 
6. The rest of the paper towel strips will hang outside the bowl. You can tape them in place so they don’t move.
7. The water will defy gravity and move up the paper towel strips! Along the way, the ink from the marker will separate into a cool dye pattern. This is chromatography!

Now that you know the basics of chromatography, use it to solve a mystery! Have a friend or adult write a note on a paper towel using one of the markers. Don’t peek! Then follow the steps above to figure out which marker was used to write the note.

Optional: Were you able to solve the mystery? Share your chromatography creations in our Student Showcase to build your resume!