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Describe briefly the structure of paper that is used in paper chromatography
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Paper used in paper chromatography is composed primarily of cellulose, a polymer of glucose. The cellulose fibers in paper are arranged in a random, porous network. This network provides a support matrix for the stationary phase, which is typically a polar solvent such as water or methanol. The mobile phase, which is typically a nonpolar solvent such as hexane or chloroform, moves through the pores of the paper by capillary action. The stationary and mobile phases interact with the sample components, causing them to separate into distinct bands based on their relative affinities for the two phases.
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