chromatography

[ kroh-muh-tog-ruh-fee ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. the separation of mixtures into their constituents by preferential adsorption by a solid, as a column of silica column chromatography or a strip of filter paper paper chromatography, or by a liquid.

chromatography

/ ˌkrəʊmətəˈɡræfɪk; ˌkrəʊməˈtɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. See gas chromatography
   the technique of separating and analysing the components of a mixture of liquids or gases by selective adsorption in, for example, a column of powder ( column chromatography ) or on a strip of paper ( paper chromatography ) See also gas chromatography

chromatography

/ krō′mə-tŏg′rə-fē /

1. A technique used to separate the components of a chemical mixture by moving the mixture along a stationary material, such as gelatin. Different components of the mixture are caught by the material at different rates and form isolated bands that can then be analyzed.

Derived Forms

• chromatographic, adjective
• ˌchromatoˈgraphically, adverb
• ˌchromaˈtographer, noun

Other Words From

• chroma·togra·pher noun
• chro·mat·o·graph·ic [kr, uh, -mat-, uh, -, graf, -ik, kroh-m, uh, -t, uh, -], adjective
• chroma·to·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromatography¹

First recorded in 1725–35; chromato- + -graphy

Example Sentences

Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, Nieh and colleagues identified hexanoic acid, octanoic acid and decanoic acid as key components of a queen’s sex pheromone.

From Science News

The donors had avoided peanuts and tree nuts for a week, and their stool was analyzed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to ensure it contained no traces of nut proteins, Rachid said.

From Science News

Mr Field, in his Chromatography, has rendered a very great service to art.

From Project Gutenberg