Paper chromatography of a leaf extract.
Why does the carotenoid travel farthest up the paper?
- Acheck_circle
It is the least polar / most soluble in the nonpolar solvent
- B
It binds water more tightly than chlorophyll
- C
It has the smallest molecular mass
- D
It absorbs more light at the origin
Explanation
In paper chromatography, less polar pigments travel farther in nonpolar solvents because they spend more time in the moving phase. Carotenoids are more nonpolar than chlorophylls.