chromatography

Term: chromatography

Literally meaning : color writing

Origin: Anc Greek

χρώμα*/chroma(=color)< probably derived from noun χειρ/hir(=hand) <χρίπτω/hripto(=touch or anoint)

γράφω/grapho(=write) > χραύω/gravo(=scrape, draw)

Coined/History

in 1903 by the Russian Italian biochemist and botanist Mikhail Semyonovich Tsvet, or Tswett, (1872-1919) by  extracting  leaf pigments, from plants using a solvent, in a column packed with particles. Curiously the Russian name Tswett means color.

Definition

Chromatography is the procedure of separating components of a mixture of components by selective adsorption by a solid.