[Chemistry Class Notes] on Paper Chromatography Pdf for Exam

Separating components from a mixture is Chromatography. To start the process, a substance known as the mobile phase dissolves the mixture, which carries the same to the second phase, i.e., the stationary phase.

A mixture has different components that travel through the stationary phase at distinct speeds to get isolated from one another. The behavior of the specific mobile and stationary phases decides which substances to travel more quickly or slowly, and this is how they are separated. The travel time of the different components is retention time.

has provided the notes on Paper Chromatography which is the part of chemistry. Paper Chromatography is a technique to separate the mixture components dissolved in the chemical using their varied migration rates across the sheets or papers.

Learn Method of Paper Chromatography and its Types

In the notes, experts have given a thorough explanation about the method of paper chromatography. It is a piece of straightforward information, which students can easily understand. Students can find that each step of the method is explained in detail by the , which is helpful to them while reading for the exams or any competitive exam. The paper chromatography method is one of the most looked forward to separating the components like peptides, amino acids, steroids, and purines.  

Apart from the method, the subject matter expert of the chemistry has added the different types of paper chromatography in the notes. There are five types of paper chromatography, and experts have pulled down each type very precisely and accurately on the paper. So, students can gain a thorough knowledge of it. 

Paper Chromatography: Quick and Easy

Paper chromatography is a quick and easy process to conduct. Most of the time, it is used to test the purity of compounds and to identify substances. It requires only a few materials for carrying out the process.

Students can find the detailed reasons behind the widespread use of paper chromatography. Also, to give in-depth knowledge about these reasons, students can take a online tuition where experts explain each topic in detail. 

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More About  Paper Chromatography

In analytical chemistry, paper chromatography is defined as a technique for separating dissolved chemical substances by taking advantage of their varied rates of migration across sheets of paper. It is an inexpensive method but a powerful analytical tool that needs very small quantities of the material.

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About Paper Chromatography Method

This method contains applying the sample or test solution as a spot near one corner of a sheet of the filter paper. Initially, this paper is impregnated with some quantity of suitable solvent to create a stationary liquid phase. An edge of the paper, which is close to the test spot, is then immersed in the other solvent, where the components of the mixture become soluble in differential degrees. The solvent also penetrates the paper by capillary action and, in passing over the sample spot, carries along with it the different components of the sample. These components move along with the flowing solvent at velocities, which are dependent on the solubilities present in the flowing and stationary solvents.

Separation of these components is brought if there are differences in the relative solubilities present in the two solvents. Prior to the flowing solvent reaching the farther paper edge, both the solvents are evaporated, and the location of the separated component can be identified, generally by the application of reagents that produce colored compounds with the separated substances. Then, the separated components appear as individual spots on the solvent’s path. If the solvent that is flowing in one direction is not able to separate all the components in a satisfactory manner, the paper can be turned 90°, and the process will be repeated using the other solvent.

The paper chromatography method has become a standard practice for the separation of complex mixtures of peptides, amino acids, steroids, carbohydrates, purines, and a long list of simple organic compounds. Also, the inorganic ions can readily be separated on paper.

Pigments and Polarity

Paper chromatography is a method that is used for testing the purity of compounds and the identification of substances. The paper chromatography method is a useful technique due to the reason it is relatively quick and needs only small quantities of material. Separations in the paper chromatography method involve the partition principle. In the method of paper chromatography, the substances are distributed between a mobile phase and a stationary phase.

The stationary phase is defined as the water trapped between the paper’s cellulose fibers. The mobile phase is defined as a developing solution, which travels up the stationary phase by carrying the samples with it. The sample components will readily separate as per how strongly they adsorb onto the stationary phase vs. how readily they dissolve in the mobile phase.

When a sample of colored chemical is placed on a filter paper, the colors get separated from the sample simply by placing one end of the paper in a solvent. Then, the solvent diffuses up the paper by dissolving the different molecules in the sample as per the polarities of the molecules and the solvent. If the sample has more than one color, it means it must contain more than one kind of molecule. Because of the various chemical structures of every kind of molecule, the chances are high that each molecule will have at least a slightly different polarity by giving each molecule a variable solubility in the solvent.

The unequal solubility causes the different color molecules to leave the solution at various places as the solvent continues to move the paper up. The more soluble a molecule, the higher it will migrate up the paper. The chemical will not dissolve in a very polar solvent if it is very non-polar. This is similar to a very polar chemical solvent and a very non-polar solvent.

It is also important to make a note that when using water (which is a more polar substance) as a solvent, when the color is more polar, it will rise higher on the papers.

Types of Paper Chromatography