Chromatography can be used to separate mixtures of coloured compounds . … A spot of the mixture is placed near the bottom of a piece of chromatography paper. The paper is then placed upright in a suitable solvent , such as water. As the solvent soaks up the paper, it carries the mixtures with it.

What is paper chromatography in simple words?

paper chromatography, in analytical chemistry, technique for separating dissolved chemical substances by taking advantage of their different rates of migration across sheets of paper. … The method consists of applying the test solution or sample as a spot near one corner of a sheet of filter paper.

How does paper chromatography separate pigments?

Pigments are separated according to differences in their relative solubilities. … The V-shaped tip of the paper is placed in the chromatography solvent and acts as a wick to draw the solvent up the paper, separating pigments according to their relative solubility and molecular weights.