Question

Which of the following is one of the characteristic features of chromatography?

a. separation of compounds based on their movement speed.

b. each chemical species present in the spinach extract moves at the same rate.

c. use of a carbon as a mobile phase.

d. use of molecules that are soluble in benzene.

Answer 1

The characteristic feature of chromatography is the separation of compounds based on their movement speed, as they move through a stationary phase and a mobile phase at different rates due to varying interactions.

option a is the correct

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic feature of chromatography is the separation of compounds based on their movement speed. Chromatography is a method for separating mixtures into their individual components by passing them through a mobile phase and a stationary phase.

Components move at different speeds due to their different affinities for the stationary phase and their differing interactions with the mobile phase. In a chromatographic process like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), some molecules are attracted strongly to the particles in the stationary phase and move more slowly, while others are attracted weakly and move more quickly. This differential movement or retention time leads to the successful separation of the components, which can be analyzed qualitatively or quantitatively.