Describe the process of paper chromatography.

Process of paper chromatography :

• The mixture of the compound to be analysed is dissolved in a suitable solvent and spotted on the chromatography paper about 2 cm from one end of the paper using a glass capillary.
• The paper is then suspended in a chamber containing the mobile phase.
• The mobile phase rises up the paper and flows over the spot, due to capillary action.
• Different solutes are retained differently on the paper depending on their selective partitioning between the two phases. The paper strip so developed, is known as chromatogram.