Why Can Partition Chromatography Separate Very Similar Compounds?

Some points on why partition chromatography can separate very similar compounds:

  • Partition chromatography achieves clear separation when compounds differ only slightly in polarity or functional groups.
  • Small polarity differences alter how long each compound distributes between the stationary and mobile phases, producing measurable retention variation.
  • Because this separation is governed by equilibrium partitioning rather than surface binding, even minor functional group changes lead to consistent resolution along the column.

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