What is chromatography primarily used for?

Chromatography is primarily utilized for the separation of mixtures into their individual components. This technique leverages the differences in the interactions of various substances with a stationary phase and a mobile phase during the separation process. As the mixture moves through the chromatographic medium, different compounds travel at different rates, allowing them to be isolated from one another.

The effectiveness of chromatography in separating substances makes it a critical tool in numerous fields, including chemistry, biology, and environmental science. By applying this method, scientists can analyze the composition of complex mixtures, purify compounds, and conduct various assays.

Fundamentally, the ability to separate individual components from a mixture is essential in areas such as drug development, where purity and composition are vital, and in analytical chemistry, where understanding the make-up of a sample is crucial.