chromatography

noun

chro·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌkrō-mə-ˈtä-grə-fē 

: a process in which a chemical mixture carried by a liquid or gas is separated into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase

chromatographic

krō-ˌma-tə-ˈgra-fik 

krə-

adjective

chromatographically

krō-ˌma-tə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

krə-

adverb

Examples of chromatography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After dissecting the sharks in the lab, the team tested muscle and liver tissue using a standard technique called liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. —Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 19 July 2024

The University of Virginia team tested the mushroom products in October 2023 using liquid chromatography. —Nicholas Florko, STAT, 18 July 2024

When Hansen used a more precise method, liquid chromatography, the results left little doubt that the chemical in the Red Cross blood was PFOS. —Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 20 May 2024

In this case, the company used ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography–accurate mass-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis, and consulted with an ethnobotanist. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Chromatographie, from chromato- chromato- + -graphie -graphy, after earlier chromatographisch "chromatographic" and Chromatogramm chromatogram

Note: Term introduced by the botanist Mikhail Semyonovich Tsvet in "Adsorptionsanalyse und chromatographische Methode. Anwendung auf die Chemie des Chlorophylls," Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft, Band 24 (1906), p. 387. See note at chromatogram.

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chromatography

• affinity chromatography
• gas chromatography
• gas-liquid chromatography
• gel permeation chromatography
• paper chromatography
• thin-layer chromatography

Kids Definition

chromatography

noun

chro·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌkrō-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

: separation and detection of chemical compounds as a result of their having traveled at different rates according to their different attractions to matter that carries them (as flowing liquid or gas) and matter that is not moving (as a liquid coating a solid)

chromatographic

krō-ˌmat-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

krə-

adjective

Medical Definition

chromatography

noun

chro·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌkrō-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

plural chromatographies

: a process in which a chemical mixture carried by a liquid or gas is separated into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase see affinity chromatography, cochromatography, column chromatography, electrochromatography, gas chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, gel filtration, high-performance liquid chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, liquid chromatography, paper chromatography, partition chromatography, radiochromatography, thin-layer chromatography

chromatographic

krō-ˌmat-ə-ˈgraf-ik, krə- 

adjective

chromatographically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb