Which statement correctly distinguishes partition chromatography from adsorption chromatography, with appropriate examples?

Which statement correctly distinguishes partition chromatography from adsorption chromatography, with appropriate examples?

• A. Adsorption onto a solid stationary phase; example: normal-phase silica chromatography.
• B. Partition chromatography uses a gas stationary phase.
• C. Partition chromatography is identical to adsorption chromatography.
• D. Partition chromatography involves distribution of solute between a liquid stationary phase and the mobile phase; example: reversed-phase HPLC with aqueous-organic mobile phase and C18 stationary phase.

Answer: (D)