paper chromatography

Also known as chromatography, paper

analytical method, chromatography using paper as a solid phase

Key facts

Acronym: PC
Classification: Chromatography
Analytes: chromatography is a technique used for separation of the parts of a mixture of either gas or liquid solution
Related: Thin layer chromatography

via Wikipedia infobox

~6 min read

Article

Paper chromatography is an analytical method used to separate colored chemicals or substances. It can also be used for colorless chemicals that can be located by a stain or other visualisation method after separation. It is now primarily used as a teaching tool, having been replaced in the laboratory by other chromatography methods such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC).

This analytic method has three components, a mobile phase, stationary phase and a support medium (the paper). The mobile phase is generally a non-polar organic solvent in which the sample is dissolved. The stationary phase consists of (polar) water molecules that were incorporated into the paper when it was manufactured. The mobile phase travels up the stationary phase by capillary action, carrying the sample with it. The difference between TLC and paper chromatography is that the stationary phase in TLC is a layer of adsorbent (usually silica gel, or aluminium oxide), and the stationary phase in paper chromatography is less absorbent paper.