Organic Chemistry Basics 2 Question 5
5. The principle of column chromatography is
(2019 Main, 10 April I)
(a) differential absorption of the substances on the solid phase
(b) differential adsorption of the substances on the solid phase
(c) gravitational force
(d) capillary action
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Answer:
Correct Answer: 5. (b)
Solution:
- In column chromatography, separation of mixture of compounds (adsorbate) takes place over a column of solid adsorbent (silica gel and $\mathrm{Al}{2} \mathrm{O}{3}$ ) packed in a glass tube. When an appropriate eluant (liquid) is allowed to flow down the column, the compounds present in the mixture get adsorbed to different extent on the adsorbent column and thus complete separation takes place.
Thus, column chromatography is based on the differential adsorption of the substance on the solid phase.
