
A ready-to-use GCSE Chemistry practical worksheet on investigating inks by paper chromatography for Edexcel separate (triple) science, SC2 Methods of Separating and Purifying Substances. Includes the aim, “what should I know after this practical?” objectives, a full method with labelled diagrams, a results table and scaffolded exam-style questions.
Students separate the dyes in water-based inks by paper chromatography, then interpret the chromatogram and calculate Rf values.
What’s included: the aim and “what should I know after this practical?” objectives, a step-by-step method with labelled diagrams, a results table, scaffolded exam-style questions and a calculation to work through.
The PowerPoint is fully editable, so you can reword the questions, change the quantities to match the equipment in your prep room, or drop your own diagrams in.
How I use it: students complete the sheet during the practical and keep it for revision, which gives them a written record to revise from when practical questions come up in the exam. With the full method on the sheet, any non-specialist in the department can run the practical confidently.
Teaching combined science as well? The same practical, coded CC2 for the combined specification, is here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/edexcel-gcse-chemistry-core-practical-cc2-chromatography-13537116
Buying more than one? This practical is part of my Triple Chemistry Core Practicals bundle - all 14 for £19.00 instead of £35.00: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/triple-chemistry-core-practicals-edexcel-gcse-bundle-13538572
The layout matches my KS3 practical booklets (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13516197), so students arriving from Year 9 already know how the sheets work.
Last updated August 2026.
Credit: Diagrams created using Chemix.
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