Chromatography is a method used to separate mixtures into their individual components. This technique is especially useful for separating and identifying monosaccharides, which are simple sugars.

Paper Chromatography for Monosaccharides

1. Staining: Since monosaccharides are colourless, the sample is first stained to make the components visible on the chromatography paper.
2. Application: A small spot of the stained mixture containing the monosaccharides is placed on the chromatography paper, alongside spots of known monosaccharide standards for comparison.
3. Separation: The paper is suspended in a solvent (the mobile phase). As the solvent travels up the paper, the monosaccharides in the mixture separate at different distances based on their solubility in the solvent.
4. Comparison and Identification: Once the solvent has finished moving up the paper, the separated monosaccharides form distinct spots on the chromatogram. The positions of these spots are compared with the known monosaccharides to identify the specific sugars in the mixture.

Important Terms

• Chromatogram: The visual output of the chromatography process, showing the separated components as spots on the chromatography paper.
• Mobile Phase: The solvent that moves through the stationary phase and carries the mixture.
• Stationary Phase: The surface (chromatography paper) that the mobile phase moves over.