chromatography
Component separation technique
Chromatography is a laboratory technique for separating mixtures into their component substances.
The mixture passes through a medium—paper, gel, or a column of material—and different components travel at different speeds based on their chemical properties, allowing identification and isolation.
Gas chromatography revealed traces of accelerant at the fire scene.
Vertical structural element
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- reagentsSubstances for chemical analysis
- syringeMedical injection tool
- vialSmall glass liquid holder
pump · injector · mass spectrometer · integrator · standards · calibration
Substance being measured
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- peptidesBonded amino acid sequences
- lipidsWater-insoluble biomolecules
- metabolitesChemicals from bodily processes
amino acids · nucleotides · carbohydrates · alkaloids · steroids · hormones · vitamins · enzymes
Vertical structural element
- gradientRate of change across space
- partitioningDividing into sections
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- selectivityTendency to choose carefully
adsorption · fractionation · peak · baseline · detector · flow rate · band · migration
Formless, expanding substance
- liquidFree-flowing substance
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- ionCharged atom or molecule
- flashBrief burst of light
preparative · analytical · two-dimensional · capillary · chiral · affinity · ion-exchange
Complete separation from others
- extractionAct of removing
- preparativeServing to ready
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
yield · desalting · polishing · clean-up · impurities · fractionation · concentration · enrichment
Formal decision or determination
- reproducibilityAbility to repeat findings
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- quality controlMaintaining production standards
column
Vertical structural element
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- reagentsSubstances for chemical analysis
- syringeMedical injection tool
vial · pump · injector · mass spectrometer · integrator · standards · calibration
analyte
Substance being measured
metabolites · amino acids · nucleotides · carbohydrates · alkaloids · steroids · hormones · vitamins · enzymes · isomers
column
Vertical structural element
- gradientRate of change across space
- partitioningDividing into sections
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
selectivity · adsorption · fractionation · peak · baseline · detector · flow rate · band · migration · affinity
gas
Formless, expanding substance
flash · preparative · analytical · two-dimensional · capillary · chiral · affinity · ion-exchange
isolation
Complete separation from others
- extractionAct of removing
- preparativeServing to ready
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
recovery · yield · desalting · polishing · clean-up · impurities · fractionation · concentration · enrichment · scale-up
resolution
Formal decision or determination
- reproducibilityAbility to repeat findings
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
quality control · fingerprinting · profiling · identification
- laboratorybeaker, test tube, flask, microscope, pipette
- extractionmining, excavation, distillation, filtration, extraction
- science experimentsvolcano model, elephant toothpaste, color change, slime making, baking soda volcano
- BiotechDNA, bioengineering, genetic testing, gene, DNA sequencing
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- forensicsDNA, DNA analysis, fingerprints, forensics, criminalistics
chromatographydistillation
Purification via vaporization
filtration · centrifugation · precipitation · crystallization · evaporation
chromatographysynthesis
Combining parts into whole
mixing · homogenization · chemical synthesis · combination · compounding