Chromatography - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Chromatography is a scientific method used to separate and identify different substances in a mixture. It works by passing the mixture through a medium, like paper or a column filled with a gel, where the different substances move at varying speeds. This happens because each substance interacts differently with the medium.

For example, in paper chromatography, you might put a drop of ink on a piece of paper and place it in water. As the water moves up the paper, the different colours in the ink will spread out and separate, showing you all the different components in the ink.

Chromatography is a useful technique in chemistry for analysing complex mixtures and is used in fields like forensics, environmental testing, and food safety.