Practice question

Chromatography types differ by nature of stationary phase and interaction mechanism. Partition chromatography uses liquid stationary phase immobilized on solid support, separation via solubility differences. Gel filtration uses porous gel but separation is based on size exclusion. Affinity chromatography uses biospecific ligands. Adsorption chromatography employs solid stationary phase such as silica, alumina, or charcoal where solutes adsorb directly onto surface via van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, or dipole interactions. Binding strength dictates retardation. Understanding solid versus liquid stationary phase distinction is fundamental for selecting appropriate matrices for purification of isomers and non-polar compounds.