6.10.3

Column Chromatography (A2 Only)

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Column Chromatography

Column chromatography is one of the most commonly used methods for separating substances.

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Experimental set up

  • A glass column is packed with a solid support (normally silica).
  • The sample mixture is added above this, in the column.
  • An organic solvent is added which moves the sample down the solid support and through the column.
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Mobile and stationary phases

  • The solid support is the stationary phase.
  • The organic solvent is the mobile phase.
    • The more apolar substances are more soluble in the organic solvent. They interact more with the mobile phase and so run quickly through the column. They have a smaller retention time.
    • The more polar substances are less soluble and interact more with the stationary phase. They have a larger retention time.
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Experimental procedure

  • Above shows the step-by-step process of separating substances using column chromatography.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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