Make photosynthesis hands-on and measurable with a lab students love: paper chromatography of spinach pigments. In this investigation, students separate the four major photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, xanthophylls, beta-carotene), measure band distances, calculate Rf values, and use polarity (“like dissolves like”) to identify each pigment—then connect results to accessory pigments and autumn leaf color change.This lab is classroom-friendly, uses widely available materials,