analysing paper chromatography

chromatography is an analytical method used to separate the substances in a mixture.

all types of chromatography have two phases:

1. a mobile phase-molecules can move. a liquid or gas

2. a stationary phase-where the molecules cant move. this can be a solid or a thick liquid.

during a chromatography experiment the substances in the sample constantly move between the mobile and the stationary phases-an equilibrium is formed betweent the 2 phases

how quickly a chemical moves depends on how its distributed between the two phases-whether it spends more time in the mobile or stationary phase

the components in a mixture will normally separate through the stationary phase so long as the components spend different amounts of time in the mobile phase

a pure substance will only ever form one spot in any solvent as there is only one substance in the sample

theory of…