Since size is proportional to molecular weight (given constant density), gel filtration can be thought of as a procedure to separate proteins based on molecular mass. The Gel matrix used in this experiment is G-75 Sephadex from GE Healthcare (Product #17-0050-01). This matrix is cross linked dextran particles, which contain small pores within them. These pores are within a size range which dictates the fractional range. Essentially, proteins within this fractional range and smaller than the fractional limit, are small enough to fit into all the pores in the Sephadex, making them travel a greater distance down the filtration column, and thus elute slower these are called included particles. .
Conversely, a protein that is above the exclusion limit (which is described as the size of the smallest particle that will enter the pores within the matrix) it will travel a smaller distance down the fractionation column and be eluted faster, these particles are called excluded particles as they are excluded from the matrix. Finally, molecules which have a molecular mass between that of the fraction limit and the exclusion limit will only be able to pass through some (but not all) pores, thus their elution is only partially hindered and they elute after the excluded particles, but before the included, these molecules are called partially excluded. In the context of this procedure, the fractionation limit of the G75 Sephadex is 3 × 103 Da and the exclusion limit is 7 × 104 Da. .
Thus, using the above information, we can classify the particles separated in this experiment (NaMnO4, Cytochrome C, and Dextran) with respect to inclusivity based on their molecular mass. NaMnO4 has a molecular mass of 158 Dalton. This mass is below the fractional limit of the matrix, thus making NaMnO4 a completely included compound, as it can fit into all of the pores in the Sephadex. As such, the NaMnO4 eluted last in the fractionation and thus was the "yellow" unknown.