What principle does chromatography rely on?

Chromatography is a technique used for separating components of a mixture based on their differing interactions with stationary and mobile phases. In this process, the mixture is carried through a medium (the stationary phase) by a solvent (the mobile phase). Each component of the mixture interacts with the stationary phase to a different extent, leading to variations in how quickly they are transported. As the mobile phase moves through the stationary phase, substances with a higher affinity for the stationary phase will move more slowly compared to those with a greater affinity for the mobile phase. This results in the separation of the components along the chromatographic medium, allowing for their identification and analysis. Thus, the principle of separation based on the affinity for stationary and mobile phases accurately describes the fundamental mechanism at work in chromatography.