Introduction

Question 1

What is chromatography?

3

Answer 1

It means ‘colour writing’ in Greek
It is a separation technique in chemistry
It was first used to separate the coloured pigments in plants

Question 2

What is chromatography used for?

2

Answer 2

To separate different substances in a mixture

To identify and measure amounts of substances in a mixture

Question 3

What was chromatography first used for?

Answer 3

To separate colors

Question 4

All of the varies techniques in chromatography depend on the same basic principle, what is this principle (not definition)

Answer 4

A mobile phase carriers the components of a mixture through a stationary phase at different rates

Question 5

What could be used as a mobile phase?

Answer 5

Water or ethanol

Question 6

What could be used as a stationary phase?

Answer 6

Paper

Aluminium oxide

Question 7

What does the mobile phase do?

Answer 7

It moves over the stationary phase and the components of the mixture are separated out on the stationary phase

Question 8

What happens to the components of the mixture as the mobile phase flows over the stationary phase

Answer 8

The components of the mixture are separated out on the stationary phase

Question 9

What causes the separation of the mixture?

Answer 9

It is caused by the fact that components which tend to be held by the stationary phase move more slowly that those which mix well with the mobile phase.

Question 10

Define chromatography

Answer 10

Chromatography is a separation technique in which a mobile phase carrying a mixture moves in contact with a selectively adsorbent stationary phase

Question 11

What is the principle on which all chromatography techniques are based?

Answer 11

Separation of a mixture of components occurs as a result of selective adsorbance of the components of the mixture on a stationary phase while carriee by a mobile phase