Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/paper-chromatography.html
Paper chromatography is economical, simple, reproducible and accurate for the separation and identification of many important organic and inorganic compounds. Chromatography's value as a teaching tool of scientific inquiry will continue into the future, even though more sophisticated, chemical separations tools are, and will be, available.
Read more at Suite101: Paper Chromatography Basic Principles and Facts | Suite101 http://suite101.com/article/principles-of-paper-chromatography-a155295#ixzz2NWVtCE4f
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The First Chromatograph
The first chromatograph was invented by Russian botanist Mikhail Semenovich Tsvett (1872-1919). While working in Poland, Tsvett was looking for a method of separating a mixture of plant pigments (tints) which are chemically very similar to each other. To isolate different types of chlorophyll, he trickled a mixture of dissolved pigments through a glass tube packed with calcium carbonate powder. As the solution washed downward,