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chromatography

noun
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chro·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy | \ ˌkrō-mə-ˈtä-grə-fē How to pronounce chromatography (audio) \

Definition of chromatography

: a process in which a chemical mixture carried by a liquid or gas is separated into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase
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Other Words from chromatography

chromatographic \ krō-​ˌma-​tə-​ˈgra-​fik How to pronounce chromatographic (audio) , krə-​ \ adjective
chromatographically \ krō-​ˌma-​tə-​ˈgra-​fi-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce chromatographically (audio) , krə-​ \ adverb

Examples of chromatography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sending urine to a laboratory, which uses gas or liquid chromatography to render results more accurately, can cost thousands of dollars. — Colton Wooten, The New Yorker, "My Years in the Florida Shuffle of Drug Addiction," 14 Oct. 2019 The scientists would pick up a cooler full of frozen wastewater samples, thaw them, and analyze them using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. — Gene Johnson, BostonGlobe.com, "Gee whiz: Testing of sewage confirms rise in marijuana use," 20 June 2019 Labs in those days used lots of elaborate liquid chromatography and other equipment that had to be washed and sterilized by hand, so his was an important job. — Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, "Sunday Bulletin Board: There’s always something new to find in this ordinary old farmhouse," 16 June 2019 Arnold uses chromatography paper, water, food coloring and a felt pen. — Marcia Dunn, The Seattle Times, "1st of Christa McAuliffe’s lost lessons released from space," 7 Aug. 2018 Those machines, called gas-chromatography mass-spectrometers or GC-MS, can analyze the air to discover thousands of different molecules known as volatile organic compounds. — Andrea Soltoggio, Smithsonian, "Artificial Intelligence May Be Able To Smell Illnesses in Human Breath," 12 June 2018 There, lab officials allowed her to use equipment to conduct high performance liquid chromatography. — Betsy Hammond, OregonLive.com, "2 innovative Oregon teen scientists compete for glory at nationals," 11 Mar. 2018 The lessons will cover effervescence (bubbles), chromatography (a chemical separation technique), liquids, and Newton’s laws of motion. — Mika Mckinnon, Smithsonian, "In Stellar Tribute, Astronauts Teach “Lost Lessons” From Educator Who Died on Challenger," 22 Jan. 2018 Each product was analyzed three times for cannabinoid contents using high-performance liquid chromatography. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Study: Nearly 70% of online CBD marijuana extracts are mislabeled," 7 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chromatography.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of chromatography

1936, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for chromatography

borrowed from German Chromatographie, from chromato- chromato- + -graphie -graphy, after earlier chromatographisch "chromatographic" and Chromatogramm chromatogram

Note: Term introduced by the botanist Mikhail Semyonovich Tsvet in "Adsorptionsanalyse und chromatographische Methode. Anwendung auf die Chemie des Chlorophylls," Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft, Band 24 (1906), p. 387. See note at chromatogram.

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Learn More about chromatography

Time Traveler for chromatography

Time Traveler

The first known use of chromatography was in 1936

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Statistics for chromatography

Cite this Entry

“Chromatography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chromatography. Accessed 21 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for chromatography

chromatography

noun
chro·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy | \ ˌkrō-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē How to pronounce chromatography (audio) \
plural chromatographies

Medical Definition of chromatography

: a process in which a chemical mixture carried by a liquid or gas is separated into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase — see affinity chromatography, cochromatography, column chromatography, electrochromatography, gas chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, gel filtration, high-performance liquid chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, liquid chromatography, paper chromatography, partition chromatography, radiochromatography, thin-layer chromatography

Other Words from chromatography

chromatographic \ krō-​ˌmat-​ə-​ˈgraf-​ik, krə-​ How to pronounce chromatographic (audio) \ adjective
chromatographically \ -​i-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce chromatographically (audio) \ adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on chromatography

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chromatography

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