Matter Mystery
Home
Mystery Powder
Powder Testing Procedure
Puddle Analysis
Suspects
Ransom Note
The Window
Evidence Analysis
What? So What? Now What?
Video Rubric
Research
Baking Powder
Baby Powder
Home
Mystery Powder
Powder Testing Procedure
Puddle Analysis
Suspects
Ransom Note
The Window
Evidence Analysis
What? So What? Now What?
Video Rubric
Research
Baking Powder
Baby Powder
Matter Mystery – Ransom Note Testing
Procedure:
1. Obtain chromatography paper with samples of each of the confiscated pens and the ransom note ink.
2. Place each strip of filter paper into a beaker so the paper is in the water but
NO WATER touches the ink.
3. Use a pencil and a piece of tape to hold up the paper so it does not sag in the water.
4. Let the paper sit in the water for 5 minutes and observe the changes as the water wicks up the paper.
5. Draw (with colors) what you see for each strip.
6. Look for matches to the ransom note.
Which pen(s) do you think match the ransom note?
Is this definitive evidence against the owner of the pen(s)?
If not, what other suspects might have access to the matching pen(s)?