Chromatography is a method of separating complex mixtures in order to analyze it. It is quickly replacing many of the more traditional techniques of sample identification and purification. How does chromatography work? A mixture goes into the chromatography process and the different parts go through the system at different rates. The difference in the speeds causes the separation of the different components of the compound.
In Chromatography there’s the mobile phase and the stationary phase. The stationary phase doesn’t move while the mobile phase does. As the mobile phase moves through the stationary phase, it picks up the components to be tested. At different times in the stationary phase, the different compounds are going to stop moving with the mobile phase. Thus, the particl
Gas chromatography is used in the real world in airports to detect bombs and is used often in forensics. It also is used to analyze blood found at a crime scene and to analyze fibers on a body. In GC helium is used to move the mixture through a column of absorbent material.
The advantage of chromatography is that it can separate very complex mixtures such as drugs, flavorings, foods, fuels, air samples, and water samples. It will also work with very small sample sizes, and each of its separate components can be collected individually. Also the analysis of the components can be extremely accurate and precise. Very similar components, such as proteins differ by only one amino acid can be distinguished from one another. This is what makes chromatography very useful.