Chromatography is a technique used to separate and identify the different substances in a mixture. It works because different components of the mixture move at different speeds when carried by a moving substance (the mobile phase) over a surface or material that does not move (the stationary phase).
Simple Explanation:
- Imagine you have a mixture of colored inks.
- If you put a drop on a piece of paper and let water (the mobile phase) flow through it, the different colors spread out at different rates.
- This happens because some colors stick more to the paper (stationary phase) while others travel faster with water.
- In the end, the colors are separated, making it easy to identify them.
Key Parts of Chromatography:
- Mobile phase: The moving substance (liquid or gas) that carries the sample.
- Stationary phase: The non-moving surface (paper, gel, or solid) that separates the components.
Why It’s Useful:
- To identify unknown substances in a mixture.
- To test food, drugs, or chemicals for safety and purity.
- To analyze dyes, inks, or pollutants in the environment.
In Short:
Chromatography is a method to separate, identify, and analyze the components of a mixture based on how they move differently through a stationary material.