Which of the following statement is correct for paper chromatography?
Paper sheet forms the stationary phase.
Water present in the pores of the paper forms the stationary phase.
Paper and water present in its pores together form the stationary phase.
Water present in the mobile phase gets absorbed by the paper which then forms the stationary phase.
Correct answer:B
Standard Method
Given: The question asks which statement is correct for paper chromatography.
Find: The correct statement about the stationary phase in paper chromatography.
Paper chromatography is a type of partition chromatography. Separation occurs because components distribute differently between a stationary liquid phase and a mobile liquid phase.
In paper chromatography, the paper itself does not act as the stationary phase. The paper only provides support and holds a thin film of water within its pores and cellulose fibers. This water remains immobile and acts as the stationary phase.
The mobile phase is an organic solvent or a mixture of solvents that moves through the paper by capillary action. Solutes partition between the stationary water phase and the moving solvent phase.
Evaluating the options:
Therefore, the correct option is B.
Quick Concept Check
Given: Paper chromatography is based on the partition principle.
Find: Which component acts as the stationary phase.
Use the core fact: in paper chromatography, water trapped in the pores of the paper is stationary, while the solvent moving upward is the mobile phase.
So the correct option is B.
Assuming that the paper sheet itself is the stationary phase. This is incorrect because the paper mainly acts as a support. The stationary phase is the water held in the pores of the paper.
Confusing adsorption chromatography with paper chromatography. Paper chromatography works primarily on partition, so the solute distributes between stationary water and the moving solvent phase.
Thinking that the mobile phase absorbed later by the paper becomes stationary. This is wrong because the stationary phase is the pre-existing water film already trapped in the paper.
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