Find the word definition

Wiktionary
paper chromatography

n. (context chemistry English) A simple form of analytical chromatography in which the stationary phase is a sheet of paper.

WordNet
paper chromatography

n. chromatography that uses selective adsorption on a strip of paper

Wikipedia
Paper chromatography

Paper chromatography is an analytical method used to separate colored chemicals or substances. It is primarily used as a teaching tool, having been replaced by other chromatography methods, such as thin-layer chromatography. A paper chromatography variant, two-dimensional chromatography involves using two solvents and rotating the paper 90° in between. This is useful for separating complex mixtures of compounds having similar polarity, for example, amino acids. The setup has two components. The mobile phase is a solution that travels up the stationary phase, due to capillary action. The mobile phase is generally an alcohol solvent mixture, while the stationary phase is a strip of chromatography paper, also called a chromatogram.

Usage examples of "paper chromatography".

Snapping the suitcases closed, he set them aside and began breaking down the paper chromatography setup.

A big chunk of them are gone over very carefully by the inspectors, and a certain percentage are tested by ultra-violet, infra-red, X-ray, radio-isotopes, bleaches, fumes, paper chromatography and every other damned test known to Man.