1. a laboratory technique for separating and identifying the components of a mixture by passing it through a medium in which the components move at different rates.
Usage: technical; chemistry

Examples

• The chemist used chromatography to separate the dyes in the ink sample.
• Gas chromatography is commonly used to analyze air quality.
• Liquid chromatography helps identify the purity of pharmaceutical compounds.
• The lab technician performed chromatography to detect pesticide residues in the food sample.
• Paper chromatography is a simple method often taught in high school chemistry classes.
• Chromatography revealed that the mixture contained three distinct chemical compounds.