Question #f5ba3

1 Answer
SupernovaT
Feb 7, 2018

Because water is a very good solvent (i.e. substances can dissolve easily in it)

Explanation:

Chromatography requires a solvent to 'carry' a sample up a chromatography plate. Water is a very good solvent for many types of molecules, therefore as the water (solvent) moves up a plate, the sample placed on the plate can dissolve into the water and thus be 'carried' up the plate by the solvent. The key is that water will travel up the plate at a different speed to the solution of water and sample, this enabling an Rf value to be calculated.

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