Butterfly Chromatography

With just a coffee filter, some colored markers, and water, you can make colorful butterfly chromatograms.  Marker ink is made up of different water-soluble colors which can be separated using water and a coffee filter. The hydrophilic (water-loving) colors travel across the cellulose (also, hydrophilic) coffee filter to provide the separation of color. This is a simple demonstration of the process called "chromatography", which literally means "color-writing".

This activity was compiled by Heather D. Tippens and is recommended for children in grades K - 3.