Final answer:
Malachite green dye elutes first based on its solubility in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason malachite green dye elutes first can be attributed to its solubility in water. Malachite green is a cationic dye with molecular weight of about 365 g/mol. It is highly soluble in water due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. This solubility allows it to be easily transported through a chromatography column and eluted first.