The components of ink are separated in paper chromatography by interacting differently with the filter paper and the solvent. Components with greater affinity to the stationary phase move slower than those with greater solubility in the mobile phase.
In paper chromatography, the components of the ink are separated due to the differential interactions with the filter paper and the solvent. The separation occurs because the various components of the ink mixture have differing affinities for the stationary phase (the filter paper) and the mobile phase (the solvent). As the solvent moves through the filter paper by capillary action, components with a lower affinity for the paper will move faster, whereas those with a higher affinity will move more slowly, resulting in their separation.
This separation of analytes is fundamental to chromatographic techniques. In essence, compounds that are more strongly adsorbed to the stationary phase will have a longer retention time, while those that are more soluble in the mobile phase will travel through the system more swiftly. This principle is used not only in paper chromatography but also in other types such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), where the retention time can be measured precisely and used for analysis.