Why Does Polarity Control Retention in Adsorption Chromatography?

Adsorption chromatography relies on the difference in polarity between the stationary phase and the mobile phase to produce selective retention. The stationary phase is usually polar, providing surface sites that interact more strongly with polar compounds. The mobile phase carries the mixture through the column and competes with analytes for these surface interactions. When polarity differences are significant, some molecules remain attached longer while others pass through more quickly. This contrast in attraction creates distinct retention times and enables effective separation of mixture components. Find out more about importance of adsorption chromatography to learn more about it.