In class we did two labs and two demonstrations for Capillary Action. Some classes didn't see both demonstrations.
Capillary action is when water travels up through narrow tubes. Since there are no narrow tubes in paper towels or chromatography paper, the water travels up in between the narrow spaces between the fibers.
This is what the end result looks like.
We call this tie-dye.
We call this tie-dye.
Chromatography and Capillary Action all in one.
Here we see Capillary Action when the liquid travels up the paper towel.
Then we see Chromatography when the liquids in the color black separate.
Then we see Chromatography when the liquids in the color black separate.