Gas Chromatography (GC) is a laboratory technique used to separate and analyze compounds that can be vaporized without decomposing.
Simple explanation:
- A sample (gas or liquid) is injected into the GC instrument.
- It is carried by an inert gas (like helium or nitrogen) through a column.
- Inside the column, different compounds move at different speeds because they interact differently with the stationary phase (material inside the column).
- As each compound comes out of the column, it reaches a detector, which records a peak on a chromatogram.
Each peak represents a different compound in the sample.
Main parts of GC:
- Carrier gas – moves the sample through the system.
- Injector – introduces the sample into the gas stream.
- Column – separates the compounds.
- Oven – controls the temperature of the column.
- Detector – identifies and measures the separated compounds.
Uses of GC:
- Testing food and flavors
- Checking environmental samples (air, water)
- Forensic analysis (drugs, alcohol)
- Pharmaceutical quality control
In short:
Gas Chromatography is a method used to separate, identify, and measure the components of a gas or vaporized sample.