Chromatography aims to

Chromatography aims to

• A. It identifies only colors of samples.
• B. It purifies solvents but not components.
• C. It relies on a single phase for separation.
• D. It separates a mixture into its individual components.

Answer: (D)

Chromatography aims to separate a mixture into its individual components by exploiting differences in how each component partitions between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. As the mobile phase flows, compounds interact with both phases to different extents, so some travel faster while others move more slowly, yielding distinct components that can be detected, quantified, or collected separately. This separation capability is what makes chromatography so useful for analysis and purification. The other ideas don’t fit as well: colors aren’t the sole focus—many components are colorless and require detectors beyond simple color observation; chromatography is used to separate and often purify mixture components rather than just purifying solvents; and it relies on two phases (stationary and mobile), not a single phase.

Chromatography aims to separate a mixture into its individual components by exploiting differences in how each component partitions between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. As the mobile phase flows, compounds interact with both phases to different extents, so some travel faster while others move more slowly, yielding distinct components that can be detected, quantified, or collected separately. This separation capability is what makes chromatography so useful for analysis and purification.

The other ideas don’t fit as well: colors aren’t the sole focus—many components are colorless and require detectors beyond simple color observation; chromatography is used to separate and often purify mixture components rather than just purifying solvents; and it relies on two phases (stationary and mobile), not a single phase.