CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

chromatography    →   kromatografija

Chromatography is a method of separation of the components of a sample in which the components are distributed between two phases, one of which is stationary while the other moves. In gas chromatography, the gas moves over a liquid or solid stationary phase. In liquid chromatography, the liquid mixture moves through another liquid, a solid, or a gel. The mechanism of separation of components may be adsorption, differential solubility, ion-exchange, permeation, or other mechanisms.

column chromatography    →   kromatografija u koloni

Column chromatography is generally used as a purification technique: it isolates desired compounds from a mixture. In column chromatography, the stationary phase, a solid adsorbent, is placed in a vertical column. The mobile phase, a liquid, is added to the top and flows down through the column by either gravity or external pressure. The mobile phase can be a gas or a liquid which gives rise to the two basic forms of chromatography, namely, gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC).

paper chromatography    →   papirna kromatografija

Paper chromatography is one of the types of chromatography procedures which runs on a piece of specialized paper. It is a planar chromatography systems wherein a cellulose filter paper acts as a stationary phase on which separation of compounds occurs. The edge of the paper is immersed in a solvent, and the solvent moves up the paper by capillary action.

supercritical fluid chromatography    →   superkritična fluidna kromatografija

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is a hybrid of gas and liquid chromatography. SFC is of importance because it permits the separation and determination of a group of compounds that are not conveniently handled by either gas or liquid chromatography. These compounds are either nonvolatile or thermally labile so that gas chromatography cannot be used and they do not contain functional groups that make possible detection by liquid chromatography. SFC has been applied to a wide variety of materials including natural prodcuts, drugs, foods, pesticides and herbicides, fossil fuels, explosives and propellants.

thin layer chromatography    →   tankoslojna kromatografija

Thin layer chromatography. (TLC) is a technique for separating components in a mixture on the basis of their differing polarities. A spot of sample is placed on a flat sheet coated with silica and then carried along by a solvent that soaks the sheet. Different components will move different distances over the surface. TLC is a useful screening technique in clinical chemistry; for example, it can be used to detect the presence of drugs in urine.

HPLC    →   HPLC

HPLC is an abbreviation for high-performance liquid chromatography. HPLC is a variation of liquid chromatography that utilises high-pressure pumps to increase the efficiency of the separation.

SFC    →   SFC

SFC is abbreviation for supercritical fluid chromatography.

TLC    →   TLC

TLC is an abbreviation for thin layer chromatography.

retardation factor    →   faktor zaostajanja

Retardation factor, R_F, (in planar chromatography) is a ratio of the distance travelled by the centre of the spot to the distance simultaneously travelled by the mobile phase:

The R_F value is characteristic for any given compound on the same stationary phase using the same mobile phase for development of the plates. Hence, known R_F values can be compared to those of unknown substances to aid in their identifications.