---
title: "A student prepares a paper chromatography experiment to separate the dye components of a water-soluble green ink. The student draws a pencil line \\(1.5\\text{ cm}\\) from the bottom of a chromatography paper strip, applies a spot of the ink on the line, and places the strip into a beaker containing an aqueous solvent. However, the initial depth of the solvent in the beaker is \\(2.5\\text{ cm}\\), submerging the pencil line and ink spot. Which of the following best explains why this experimental setup will fail to separate the dye components?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119576/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T06:53:58+00:00"
---

# A student prepares a paper chromatography experiment to separate the dye components of a water-soluble green ink. The student draws a pencil line \(1.5\text{ cm}\) from the bottom of a chromatography paper strip, applies a spot of the ink on the line, and places the strip into a beaker containing an aqueous solvent. However, the initial depth of the solvent in the beaker is \(2.5\text{ cm}\), submerging the pencil line and ink spot. Which of the following best explains why this experimental setup will fail to separate the dye components?

A student prepares a paper chromatography experiment to separate the dye components of a water-soluble green ink. The student draws a pencil line \(1.5\text{ cm}\) from the bottom of a chromatography paper strip, applies a spot of the ink on the line, and places the strip into a beaker containing an aqueous solvent. However, the initial depth of the solvent in the beaker is \(2.5\text{ cm}\), submerging the pencil line and ink spot. Which of the following best explains why this experimental setup will fail to separate the dye components?

![A schematic grayscale line diagram showing a glass beaker containing a vertical chromatography paper strip. Inside the beaker, liquid solvent fills the bottom to a height labeled 'Solvent level'. A vertical rectangular strip of chromatography paper rests upright in the beaker. A horizontal dashed line across the lower portion of the paper strip is submerged beneath the liquid surface and is labeled 'Pencil line'. A solid black circular dot is centered on the dashed pencil line beneath the liquid surface and is labeled 'Ink spot'. The top of the paper strip extends above the rim of the beaker. No other particles, labels, text, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/chromatography-setup-error-1787295237-YSG6Bn.jpg)

- **A.** The dye components will react chemically with the cellulose fibers in the paper, preventing migration.
- **B.** The dye components will dissolve directly into the solvent reservoir at the bottom of the beaker rather than migrating up the paper.
- **C.** The capillary action will be prevented because the paper fibers beneath the solvent level become fully saturated.
- **D.** The solvent front will move too quickly to allow differences in intermolecular attractions between the dyes and paper to develop.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119576/*