Today's Rocket Words: Your 5 words and meanings to learn
stationary phase
in chromatography, this is a solid or gel material that is placed in a column, or onto a plate, and serves as the support for the mixture to be separated; it is called "stationary" because it remains in a fixed position while the other components of the mixture (the mobile phase) flow past it
chromatography
a laboratory technique used to separate and analyse the components of a mixture
mobile phase
in chromatography, this refers to the liquid or gas that carries the mixture being separated through the column or over the stationary phase; it is responsible for moving the mixture through the stationary phase and is selected based on its ability to dissolve and carry the components of the mixture
absorbent
a material or substance that has the ability to take in and retain another substance within its structure
phase
a substance that a mixture of chemicals is separated into as it passes through a medium; the two main types are stationary and mobile