Chromatography and distillation

• Chromatography separates substances dissolved in a mixture
• Chromatography separates substances in a mixture because the solvent carries the substances at different speeds so they are spread out.
• Examples of how chromatography is used in industry:

  • forensic analysis
  • testing for banned drugs
  • water analysis
  • food analysis
• Paper chromatography:

  • find out which colours are mixed together
  • dots of ink are placed at the bottom of the chromatography paper on the baseline
  • the solvent carries the colours up the paper and they will travel up at different rates
  • if any of them are not soluble it will not be able to dissolve or move up
• Chemicals moving up the paper at different rates:

  • if the solvent is more soluble, it will be carried up faster
  • if the solvent is less soluble, it will be carried up slower