This document provides background information for an experiment to separate a mixture of dyes using column chromatography and then analyze the separated samples for purity using spectrometry. The key points are: 1) Column chromatography uses a stationary phase through which a mobile phase carrying analytes (dyes) passes, allowing separation based on size and attraction to the column. 2) Spectrometry measures light absorption or transmission to create graphs of absorbance versus wavelength and determine if fractions contain one or multiple dyes. 3) A pure sample will show a single distinct peak at a precise wavelength, while an impure sample will show a larger peak for the visible color plus a smaller peak for the non-visible color.