Grade 6
  1. Introduction to Chemistry  1.1. What is Chemistry?  1.2. Importance of chemistry in daily life  1.3. Branches of chemistry  1.4. Safety rules in chemistry laboratory  1.5. Common Laboratory Equipment and Their Uses
  2. Matter and its states  2.1. Definition of Matter  2.2. Properties of matter  2.3. States of matter  2.4. Solid state  2.5. Fluid state  2.6. Gaseous state  2.7. Plasma state  2.8. Changes in the states of matter  2.9. Melting and freezing  2.10. Evaporation and Condensation  2.11. Sublimation  2.12. Deposit
  3. Physical and chemical changes  3.1. Definition of Physical Change  3.2. Examples of physical change  3.3. Definition of Chemical Change  3.4. Examples of chemical change  3.5. Difference Between Physical and Chemical Changes  3.6. Indicators of Chemical Change
  4. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures  4.1. Definition of the element  4.2. Classification of elements  4.3. Metals  4.4. Non metallic  4.5. Metalloids  4.6. Noble gases  4.7. Definition of compound  4.8. Properties of Compounds  4.9. Definition of Mixture  4.10. Types of mixtures  4.11. Homogeneous mixture  4.12. Heterogeneous mixtures
  5. Separation of mixtures  5.1. The need for isolation  5.2. Separation methods  5.3. Handpicking and winnowing  5.4. Filtration  5.5. Sedimentation and decantation  5.6. Evaporation  5.7. Crystallization  5.8. Distillation  5.9. Magnetic Separation  5.10. Chromatography
  6. Air and its composition  6.1. Components of air  6.2. Importance of Oxygen  6.3. The importance of nitrogen in the air and its composition  6.4. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere  6.5. The role of water vapor and other gases in air and its composition  6.6. Properties of Air  6.7. Uses of air  6.8. Air pollution and its effects
  7. Water and its properties  7.1. Importance of Water  7.2. Sources of water  7.3. Properties of water  7.4. Water as the universal solvent  7.5. Water Purification  7.6. Water purification methods (boiling, filtration, chlorination)  7.7. Water cycle  7.8. Water conservation  7.9. Water pollution and its effects
  8. Acids, Bases and Salts  8.1. Definition of Acid  8.2. Properties of Acids  8.3. Examples of Acids  8.4. Definition of Bases  8.5. Properties of bases  8.6. Examples of Bases  8.7. Definition of Salt  8.8. Neutralization reaction  8.9. pH Scale and Indicators  8.10. Uses of Acids, Bases and Salts
  9. Introduction to the Periodic Table  9.1. History of the Periodic Table  9.2. Arrangement of elements in the periodic table  9.3. Groups and periods  9.4. Importance of periodic table  9.5. First 10 elements and their symbols
  10. Metals and Nonmetals  10.1. Properties of Metals  10.2. Properties of Non-Metals  10.3. Difference Between Metals and Nonmetals  10.4. Uses of metals and nonmetals  10.5. Corrosion of metals and its prevention
  11. chemical reactions  11.1. Introduction to Chemical Reactions  11.2. Types of Chemical Reactions  11.3. combustion reaction  11.4. Oxidation and Reduction  11.5. Simple chemical equations  11.6. Rusting of iron
  12. Fuel and energy  12.1. Types of fuel  12.2. Fossil fuels  12.3. Renewable and non-renewable sources of energy  12.4. Energy Conservation  12.5. Alternative sources of energy (solar, wind, hydropower)
  13. Plastic and fiber  13.1. Natural and synthetic fibers  13.2. Properties of plastics  13.3. Advantages and disadvantages of plastic  13.4. Recycling of plastic  13.5. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials

Grade 6 → Separation of mixtures ↓


Chromatography


Chromatography is a special method used to separate mixtures. It's like being a detective, using skills to uncover the hidden parts of a mixture. In this explanation, we'll learn about chromatography, what it is, how it works, and why it's so important in chemistry and everyday life.

What is chromatography?

Chromatography is a way to separate mixtures of substances into their individual components. Think of a mixture as a group of different colored marbles in a jar. If you only want the red marbles, you have to separate them from the rest. Similarly, chromatography separates and identifies the different components in a mixture.

Components in the mixture

Mixtures can contain solids, liquids, or gases mixed together. For example, air is a mixture of gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Similarly, when you use a marker to draw on paper, the ink is a mixture of different colors.

How does chromatography work?

Chromatography involves two main parts: the stationary phase and the mobile phase. Let's break these down:

  • Stationary phase: This is a material that remains stationary, such as a thin layer of gel on a paper or glass plate.
  • Mobile phase: This is the liquid that moves through or along the stationary phase, carrying the components of the mixture with it. This can be water or some type of alcohol.

The mobile phase moves over the stationary phase, and as it moves, it carries with it the various components of the mixture. Some components move faster than others and thus they are separated from each other.

Types of chromatography

There are many types of chromatography, but we will focus on simple chromatography suitable for young learners.

Paper chromatography

Paper chromatography is one of the simplest forms of chromatography. It uses special paper as the stationary phase. Let's do a simple activity to understand how it works:

  1. Take a strip of filter paper.
  2. Draw a line with a pencil near one end of the strip.
  3. Put a dot of ink on the pencil line using the marker.
  4. Dip the end of the paper (below the pencil line) into a cup of water, alcohol, or vinegar, being careful not to submerge the ink point.
  5. Watch how the liquid moves upward on the paper, carrying the colours with it.
  6. Look carefully at how the dot splits into different colors.

This occurs because the different colorants in the ink have different affinities to paper and water, so they separate at different rates.

Practical example with SVG:

water surface

In the picture above, imagine the circles as different colors in the marker. As the water (represented by the line) moves upward, it carries the colors at different speeds and thus separates them.

Applications of chromatography

Chromatography is used for many important purposes in everyday life and science. Here are some examples:

1. Forensic science

Detectives use chromatography to find clues at crime scenes. For example, they can separate and identify substances in a blood or ink sample left behind. This can provide crucial evidence in solving crimes.

2. Food industry

Chromatography helps to check the quality of food. Scientists use it to ensure that foods have the right taste and that no harmful chemicals are present. It is essential for safety and quality control in the food we eat.

3. Environmental testing

Scientists use chromatography to examine pollutants in air and water. By separating the components of air or water samples, it becomes possible to identify and measure pollutants to keep our environment clean and safe.

Why is chromatography important?

Chromatography is important because it allows us to:

  • Identify the substances in the mixture.
  • Purify substances from impurities.
  • Analyze the chemical composition.

This helps scientists learn more about materials and ensure the safety and quality of the products we use every day, from medicines to our food.

Visual example

In this example, imagine each circle as a component of the mixture. As the mobile phase travels downstream, it carries each component at a unique speed, resulting in them being further separated along the path.

Conclusion

Chromatography is a fantastic tool in chemistry and it helps to separate different components in a mixture. By exploring the various applications and understanding the process, we can understand how chromatography affects our lives. Whether it is understanding the environment, increasing food safety or catching criminals, chromatography proves its importance in everyday applications.


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Chromatography

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