Why Does Xanthophyll Travel the Least?

Xanthophyll contains oxygen and does not travel quite as far with the solvent because it is less soluble the beta carotene and forms hydrogen bonds with the paper. Chlorophylls are bound more tightly to the paper than the other two, so they travel the shortest distance.

Why does Xanthophyll travel the farthest?

Xanthophylls are oxidized derivatives of carotenes. They contain hydroxyl groups and are more polar; therefore, they are the pigments that will travel the furthest in paper chromatography.

Which pigment travels the least and why?

The most soluble pigment in the ether/acetone solvent traveled the farthest, and that is the carotene. The least soluble pigment traveled the shortest distance, and that was the chlorophyll b. The chlorophyll a molecule was in the middle of the other two and showed an intermediate solubility.