Definition

1. Noun:
   • A laboratory technique for separating mixtures: Paper chromatography is an analytical method used to separate and identify the components within a mixture. It functions by using a strip of paper as the stationary phase.
   • A specific type of chromatography: It is characterized by the selective adsorption of mixture components onto a paper strip, followed by their movement via a solvent.

Usage

• Paper chromatography is primarily used in scientific and educational contexts to analyze chemical or biological mixtures, such as pigments, amino acids, or sugars.
• It is described as a process or technique. For example: "The students performed paper chromatography to separate the leaf pigments."

Examples

• Noun:
  • The simplicity of paper chromatography makes it ideal for classroom demonstrations.
  • Researchers used paper chromatography to analyze the composition of the unknown dye.

Advanced Usage

• "To run a paper chromatography": To perform the paper chromatography procedure.
  • After preparing the sample, they proceeded to run a paper chromatography.

Variants and Related Words

• Chromatography (n): The broader category of separation techniques to which paper chromatography belongs.
• Chromatogram (n): The visible record (the pattern of separated spots or bands) produced by a chromatography process, including paper chromatography.

Synonyms

• Analytical separation technique: A general term for methods like chromatography.
• Partition chromatography: A more technical synonym, as paper chromatography often operates on the principle of partition between the paper's moisture and the solvent.

Related Phrases

• Paper chromatographic analysis: The act of analyzing something using the paper chromatography method.
  • The paper chromatographic analysis revealed three distinct compounds.

Noun

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