Chemical Analysis

Question 1

What is chromatography?

Answer 1

Chromatography is used to separate substances in complex mixtures.

Question 2

Describe how components can be identified using chromatography.

Answer 2

Components can be identified by the distance they have travelled or by the time it has taken to travel through the apparatus (retention time).

Question 3

How do you interpret the graphical results of a chromatography experiment

Answer 3

• On a graph, the quantity of a substance is shown on y-axis, and the retention time on the x-axis.
• Larger molecules take longer to move up, whereas smaller molecuels are more mobile.
• Polar molecules will move further if a polar solvent is used.