Centrifugation and Chromatography

Centrifugation

Centrifugation is a method in which solid or liquid particles of different densities are separated by rotating them in the tube in a horizontal circle. The heavier suspended particles move down and lighter particles remain on top. In this method, the mixture is rotated at a high speed in a test tube in a machine called centrifuge.

Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique of separating the constituents of a mixture of liquids. It is also used for gases. These substances should be such that they do not go undergo a chemical reaction with each other. The substances on which the mixtures are absorbed are called absorbents. Some of them are silica gel, filter paper, cellulose powder, alumina, etc.

Paper chromatography

Paper chromatography proceeds by a mechanism which is partly partition and partly absorption. The solute mixture, generally dissolved in water, is placed on a strip chromatographic paper and a second solvent is allowed to travel along the strip. It will extra the solute as a result distribution of the solvent between the two solvents.

Application of Chromatography

This method of separation is used to separate various chemicals in chemistry. Moreover, it is used in following sectors:

1. To separate different colours from the mixture.
2. To identify the medicines used by a person with blood and urine.
3. To identify the quality of a colour.