3.9.1

Chromatography

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Basics of Chromatography

Chromatography is a common separation and product identification technique used by chemists.

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Basics of chromatography

  • Chromatography works to separate substances based on their interactions with a mobile and stationary phase.
    • The mobile phase is typically a solvent.
    • The stationary phase is typically a solid support.
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Process of chromatography

  • A substance is allowed to interact with both the mobile and stationary phase in either a column or a plate.
  • The more a substance interacts with the stationary phase, the longer it will take to reach the bottom of the column or plate - we say it will take longer to elute.
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Separation or identification

  • Chromatography can use the different elution times of different substances to:
    • Separate substances as they leave the column or plate at different times.
    • Identify substances using Rf values - something we will see later.
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Retention time

  • In gas chromatography, we typically measure the time taken for the substance to elute from the column - this is called the retention time.
    • Substances with a large retention time interact strongly with the stationary phase.
    • Substances with a small retention time interact weakly with the stationary phase.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

1.1Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2Atomic Structure

1.3Chemical Bonding

1.4States of Matter

1.5Chemical Energetics

1.6Electrochemistry

1.7Equilibria

1.8Partition Coefficient

1.9Reaction Kinetics

2Inorganic Chemistry

3Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2Hydrocarbons

3.3Halogen Derivatives

3.4Hydroxy Compounds

3.5Carbonyl Compounds

3.6Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7Nitrogen Compounds

3.8Polymerisation

3.9Analytical Techniques

3.10Organic Synthesis

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