Column chromatography is a method used to separate and purify substances in a mixture using a vertical column filled with a solid material (stationary phase).
How It Works:
- A glass or plastic column is packed with a solid material like silica gel or alumina (stationary phase).
- The mixture to be separated is placed on top of the column.
- A solvent or mixture of solvents (mobile phase) is poured into the column.
- Different substances in the mixture move at different speeds depending on how strongly they stick to the stationary phase.
- Substances that stick weakly move faster.
- Substances that stick strongly move slower.
- The separated substances come out of the column at different times and are collected in separate containers.
Key Features:
- Works for large-scale purification of chemicals.
- Separation depends on adsorption and solubility.
- Simple and widely used in chemistry and biochemistry labs.
Uses of Column Chromatography:
- Purifying natural products, drugs, or chemicals.
- Isolating plant pigments or proteins.
- Preparing pure compounds for research or industrial purposes.
In Short:
Column chromatography is a technique to separate substances in a mixture by passing them through a column with a stationary material, where each substance moves at a different speed, allowing collection of pure components.