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Ink Examination

Paper Chromatography of Suspect Inks

Materials:
1. Different brands of water soluble ink from felt-tip pens.
2. Water
3. Coffee filters or filter paper cut into strips, 12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide (one for each suspect ) 
4. Clear 8 oz plastic glass 
5. Pencils
6. Scotch tape
7. Safety scissors
8. Ruler

Procedure: 
1. Cut a point on the filter paper strip.
2. Make a pencil mark 1cm above the pointed tip of the filter paper strip. (Starting point)
3. Make a second pencil line 10 cm above the first pencil mark on each strip. (End point)
4. Trace the pencil line nearest the pointed tip of the strip of filter paper with the water - soluble ink pen.
5. Let the ink dry.
6. Hang the strip on a pencil, using scotch tape.
7. Place the strip in the container of water making sure that only the lower pointed tip of the filter paper touches the water.
8. Remove the strip from the water when the water 
mark reaches the second pencil line and allow the strip to air dry.
9. Examine the chromatogram when dry.
10. Make a drawing of your results.
11. Repeat steps 1 - 10 using a different strip of filter paper for
each ink sample.