Gas chromatography
Gas Chromatography
Gas chromatography (pronounced: gas kroh-muh-tog-ruh-fee) is a common type of chromatography used in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition.
Etymology
The term "gas chromatography" comes from the process of separating compounds using a gaseous mobile phase. "Chromatography" is derived from the Greek words "chroma" meaning color and "graphein" meaning to write.
Description
Gas chromatography is a method used to separate volatile substances in a gas sample. The sample is carried through a column by a gas (mobile phase), and the sample components are separated by their interaction with the column packing material (stationary phase). The separated components are then detected and can be identified and quantified.
Components of Gas Chromatography
Gas chromatography consists of several components including:
- Injector: The injector is where the sample is introduced into the system. It must be able to withstand high temperatures to vaporize the sample.
- Carrier Gas: The carrier gas is the mobile phase that carries the sample through the column. Common carrier gases include helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen.
- Column: The column is packed with the stationary phase and is where the separation of the sample components occurs.
- Detector: The detector records the signal as the separated components exit the column.
Applications
Gas chromatography is used in many fields including environmental science, forensic science, and pharmaceutical industry. It is used for the analysis of volatile organic compounds, air quality testing, drug detection, and food analysis among other applications.
Related Terms
- Chromatography
- Liquid Chromatography
- High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gas chromatography
- Wikipedia's article - Gas chromatography
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