K-2nd Grade Session 3: Skittle Chromatography!

This week our young chemists used chromatography to study the colors that are used to make Skittles flavorful shells.  We first talked about what chromatography is and how chemists use it to learn about the make up of chemicals and answer questions about our world. Then we made predictions about what skittle colors would become visible after conducting the experiment.  We then got busy with the experiment!  As the liquid began to be absorbed by the filter paper we talked about how this "absorbing" is called capillary action and how it is exactly the same process that happens in our bodies as the blood from our legs "moves" up back to the heart (just a tidbit of biochemistry). All in all, our young chemists were able to connect how chemistry is related to our everyday life - even candy-making takes some chemistry action!