Skip to main content

What is Paper Chromatography? What is the principle of Paper Chromatography? What are the applications of paper chromatography?

What is Paper Chromatography?

Paper chromatography is a simple and versatile form of chromatography that is commonly used in chemical laboratories. It involves the separation of compounds based on their affinities for a stationary phase (a piece of filter paper) and a mobile phase (a solvent). Paper chromatography is used to identify, purify, and analyze a wide range of compounds, including amino acids, plant pigments, and organic compounds.

What is the Principle of Paper Chromatography?

Principle of Paper Chromatography:

The principle of paper chromatography is based on the concept of partition chromatography. Partition chromatography occurs when a sample is placed on a stationary phase (in this case, filter paper) and a mobile phase (the solvent) is passed over it. The different components of the sample will have different affinities for the stationary and mobile phases, which will cause them to separate as the solvent moves up the paper.


Experimental Procedure of Paper Chromatography:


Materials required:


Filter paper

Sample to be separated

Solvent

Pencil or pen

Ruler

Spotting equipment (such as a capillary tube or pipette)

Developing chamber (such as a beaker or jar with a lid)

Procedure:

Cut a piece of filter paper to the appropriate size and draw a line with a pencil or pen near the bottom of the paper. This line is called the baseline.

Apply a small amount of the sample to the baseline using the spotting equipment. Ensure that the sample is applied carefully to prevent it from spreading.

Allow the sample to dry completely before placing the paper into the developing chamber.

Add the solvent to the developing chamber. The solvent should be just below the baseline.

Place the paper in the developing chamber so that the baseline is in contact with the solvent.

Cover the developing chamber with a lid to prevent the solvent from evaporating.

Allow the solvent to move up the paper until it reaches the top or near the top of the paper. This process is called developing.

Remove the paper from the chamber and allow it to dry completely.

Observe the separation of the sample on the paper.

Factors that affect Paper Chromatography:

Several factors can affect the results of paper chromatography, including:


The choice of solvent: the solvent should be carefully selected to ensure that it is compatible with the sample and the stationary phase. The solvent should also have a low viscosity and be able to dissolve the sample components.

The type of filter paper: the filter paper should be carefully selected to ensure that it is compatible with the solvent and the sample.

The size of the sample spot: the sample spot should be small to prevent the sample from spreading and to ensure that the components of the sample are well-separated.

The temperature: the temperature can affect the rate of development and the separation of the sample components. The temperature should be controlled carefully during the experiment.

Applications of Paper Chromatography:

Paper chromatography is widely used in research and industry for a wide range of applications, including:


Separation of amino acids

Separation of plant pigments

Separation of dyes and inks

Analysis of drugs and pharmaceuticals

Analysis of environmental samples

Analysis of food additives and contaminants

In conclusion, paper chromatography is a simple and powerful technique for the separation of compounds based on their affinities for a stationary phase and a mobile phase. It is widely used in research and industry for a wide range of applications and is a valuable tool for the analysis of complex mixtures.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Electronic configuration of all elements.

Electronic Configuration of Atoms. It is the distribution or representation of electrons into different shells, subshells and orbitals of an atom. On the basis of the formula i.e 2n² where n is the principle shell, we can write electronic configuration of atoms in shells i.e  K, L, M, N ... 1st shell  K contains 2 electrons as n=1 , 2n¹=2 х 1²=2. 2nd shell L contains 8 electrons as n=2,  2n²=2 x 2² = 8 3rd shell M contains 18 electrons as n=3, 2n³=2 x 3² = 18 and so on. The order of electronic configuration becomes 2, 8, 18,  32... But for orbitals s, p, d, f...   we should have a little bit knowledge of some rules i.e Aufbau principle, Pauli's Exclusion Principle and Hund's rule of maximum multiplicity. etc the  electronic configuration of any orbital can be simply represented as nlˣ n= number of the principle shell l= subshell or orbital x= number of electrons in that orbital. Aufbau Principle states that orbitals are successively fi...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Ion Exchange Chromatography? What are its different types? What are its applications?

 Ion exchange chromatography (IEC) is a powerful technique used for the separation and purification of charged molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. It is based on the principles of electrostatic interactions between charged molecules and oppositely charged stationary phase. In ion exchange chromatography, the stationary phase typically consists of a resin that contains either positively charged or negatively charged groups. These groups are known as the ion exchange sites, which are responsible for binding the target molecule to the stationary phase. The mobile phase is typically a buffer solution that contains counterions of opposite charge to the stationary phase, which help to elute the target molecule. There are two main types of ion exchange chromatography: cation exchange chromatography (CEC) and anion exchange chromatography (AEC). CEC is used for the separation of positively charged molecules, while AEC is used for the separation of negatively cha...
Post a Comment
Read more