Which liquid would you expect to be a good solvent for plant pigments in chromatography?

In chromatography, the choice of solvent is crucial for effectively separating and identifying the pigments in plants. Alcohol, particularly ethanol or isopropanol, is a good solvent for plant pigments due to its ability to dissolve a wide range of organic compounds. This includes many pigments like chlorophyll and carotenoids, which are more soluble in non-polar or less polar solvents found in alcohols than in polar solvents like water.

Alcohol has a moderate polarity, which allows it to interact with various plant pigments, enabling them to move along the chromatography medium effectively. This property helps in achieving good separation of the pigments based on their varying affinities to the stationary phase and the solvent, providing clear results in chromatography.

In contrast, while water is an excellent solvent for ionic and polar substances, it is not as effective for many organic pigments that have non-polar characteristics. Oil, on the other hand, may not dissolve water-soluble pigments effectively, as it is primarily non-polar. Glycerin, though it has properties of both polar and non-polar solvents, may not be as effective as alcohol for dissolving and separating various plant pigments. Thus, alcohol stands out as the preferable choice for this application.