chromatography

/ˌkɹəʊ.məˈtɒɡɹə.fi/

UK: /ˌkɹəʊ.məˈtɒɡɹə.fi/

kɹəʊ · MƏTⱰꞬɹƏ · fi (3 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

Any of various techniques for the qualitative or quantitative separation of the components of mixtures of compounds; all characterized by the use of a mobile phase (gas or liquid) moving relative to a stationary phase (liquid or solid) – the differences between the rates of migration of the compounds between the two phases affect the separation.

Etymology

Back-formation from chromatographic, borrowed from German chromatographisch (see there for more); by surface analysis, chromato- + -graphy. The technique is so named because it was developed primarily for the separation of the plant pigments, which would separate in bands of different "colors" (chromato-) .