Since different ingredients in a mixture are carried along at different rates, they end up in different places. By examining where all the ingredients ended up, scientists can figure out what was combined to make the mixture. Chromatography is one of the most valuable techniques biochemists have for separating mixtures. Ink and paint get their colors by absorbing some of the colors in white light and reflecting others. Green ink looks green because it reflects the green part of white light and absorbs all the other colors.
Red ink looks red because it reflects red light and absorbs all the other colors.
When you mix green, red, blue, and yellow ink, each ink that you add absorbs more light. That leaves less light to reflect to your eye. Since the mixture absorbs light of many colors and reflects very little, you end up with black. This and dozens of other cool activities are included in the Exploratorium's Science Explorer books, available for purchase from our online store .