Question

Compounds which have small value of K have affinity for:
A. Stationary phase
B. Solution
C. Mobile phase
D. No phase

Answer 1

Hint: K in chromatography stands for the retention factor or the capacity factor. It is defined as the time an analyte is retained in the stationary phase to the time it will be retained in the mobile phase.

Complete step by step answer:
We can say that the compounds which have a stronger affinity for the stationary phase, on the other hand will spend more time immobilized in that phase. This will take a much longer time to pass through the system.
Therefore if the value of K for the sample concentration is very small the retention of the compounds present will be very small that the separation of the compounds will not be possible.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A). i.e. Compounds which have small value of K have affinity for stationary phase.

Additional information:
The term K in equilibrium means the equilibrium concentration i.e. if the value of K is a small number this means that the value of equilibrium concentration for the reactant is large similarly, if the value of K is large number this means that the value of equilibrium constant for the product is large.

Note: All the forms of chromatography works on the same principle. They all have a stationary and a mobile phase. The mobile phase will carry the components of the mixtures and will flow through the stationary phase.