Question

How does the solvent affect chromatography?

Answer 1

Hint Chromatography is a technique used to separate a mixture of compounds into individual components based on their polarity. There are different types of chromatographic techniques that are there used to separate different types of samples.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked how the solvent is going to affect chromatography.
- Basically chromatography is used to separate a mixture of components based on their polarity.
- First non-polar components will separate from the mixture and later polar components will be separated.
- Solvent has a huge role in chromatography.
- If the solvent used in chromatography is highly polar in nature then we cannot separate the mixture of components into individual components.
- If the solvent used in chromatography is non-polar then also we cannot separate the mixture of components into individual components.
- First chromatography should start with a non-polar solvent and slowly we should increase the polarity of the solvent.
- Then we will get the non-polar components first from the mixture, later we will get the polar components from the mixture in a step by step process.
- Therefore the polarity of the solvent has a huge effect on chromatography.

Note: In paper chromatography we are supposed to use solvents like butanol, acetic and water in 1:4:1 ratio to separate mixtures of amino acids into individual components. By using thin layer chromatography also we can separate a mixture of amino acids into individual basings on their polarity.