BRAINCAKEChromatography
Chromatography separates and identifies the components of a mixture. Every type has two phases:
The stationary phase does not move. It is a solid, or a liquid held on a solid support.
The mobile phase moves through or over the stationary phase, carrying the mixture with it. It is a liquid or a gas.
The components separate because each has a different relative affinity for the two phases. This can be by adsorption (how strongly a component sticks to the surface of a solid stationary phase) or by relative solubility in a liquid stationary phase compared with the mobile phase. A component that is strongly attracted to the stationary phase spends more time held back and moves slowly. A component with more affinity for the mobile phase is carried along quickly.
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More in Modern Analytical Techniques
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All 15 lessons in Modern Analytical Techniques · All Edexcel A-level Chemistry topics