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We are doing the Chemistry Forensics option for the first time and I'm setting up the Paper Chromatography of Amino Acids, using Glutamic Acid and Glycine.
The teacher has given me the first page of the worksheet from Conquering Chemistry which says things like 'think carefully about the solvent you will use'. He thinks ethanol will work as the solvent, and Nihydrin in ethanol as the developer. Is this right?
And how do I prepare the amino acids? I have found a prac on the internet which says to digest the amino acids in 1M HCl, but nothing about how much.
He's doing the prac on Wednesday.

Thanks

We did this option for the first 6 years I was at this school. We have done chromatography of inks and dyes in the past. However saying that I do have an amino acid chromatography prac.
The prac suggesst using Butanol/ethanoic acid mix . I have done this before and I think I used a 10% solution of the amino acids and yes ninhydrin as the indicator in a spray bottle.
If you give me your fax no I can fax the prac if you would like.

Thanks Rae,
My Fax Number is: 42264128

And send it to Carol Howes, Science.

Thanks

Carol its on its way!!

Thanks, Rae, I've just collected it.

It's useful for actually running the prac, but I still don't know how to prepare the amino acids.
I'm going to (try to) dissolve them in 1M hydrochloric acid and take it from there.

The teacher is still insisting on using ethanol as the solvent, so we'll see how it all goes.

Carol

Carol,
I'm sure I made up 10% in water. Won't the acid denature the amino acids?

Thanks.
I'm following a prac I found which says 'amino acid samples in 1M HCl'.
I'll try a 10% solution in water as well.