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Chromatography is a laboratory technique used to separate mixtures. It works by passing a mixture, dissolved in a mobile phase, through a stationary phase. The different components of the mixture interact differently with the stationary phase, causing them to travel at different speeds. This differential movement leads to the separation of the components.

There are many types of chromatography, categorized by the nature of the stationary phase and the mobile phase. Common stationary phases include solids like silica gel or alumina, and liquids coated onto a solid support. Mobile phases can be liquids or gases. The choice of mobile and stationary phases depends on the properties of the compounds being separated.

Key applications of chromatography are found in analytical chemistry and preparative chemistry. Analytical chromatography is used to identify and quantify the components of a mixture. Preparative chromatography is used to purify larger quantities of substances. This technique is widely employed in fields such as pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, forensic science, and biochemistry. For instance, it's used to analyze drug purity, detect pollutants in water, identify substances at a crime scene, and study biological molecules. The development of chromatography has been crucial for scientific advancement, enabling detailed analysis and purification of complex mixtures.