Kromatogrammet

Kromatogrammet is a visual representation of the separation of components in a mixture achieved through chromatography. Chromatography itself is a technique used to separate, identify, and quantify each component within a mixture. The chromatogram displays the output from a detector that monitors the eluent (the mobile phase) as it passes through the stationary phase. Different components of the mixture travel at different rates through the stationary phase, depending on their chemical and physical properties and their interactions with both the stationary and mobile phases. This differential migration leads to a separation.

The horizontal axis of a chromatogram typically represents time or the volume of mobile phase that has passed through the system, often referred to as retention time or retention volume. The vertical axis usually represents the detector response, which is proportional to the concentration or amount of the component eluting from the column at that particular time. Peaks on the chromatogram correspond to individual components that have been separated. The position of a peak along the time axis (its retention time) is characteristic of a specific compound under given chromatographic conditions and can be used for identification by comparing it to known standards. The area or height of a peak is generally proportional to the quantity of that component in the sample, allowing for quantitative analysis. Therefore, kromatogrammet serves as a crucial tool for interpreting the results of a chromatographic experiment.