Chemical AnalysisHigher Tier

Higher Tier: Other Types of Chromatography

Part of Chromatography · GCSE GCSE Chemistry revision

This higher tier covers Higher Tier: Other Types of Chromatography within Chromatography for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Chromatography in Chemical Analysis for GCSE Chemistry with 23 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 10 of 13 in this topic. This section is most useful once the core foundation idea is secure, because it adds the detail that pushes answers higher.

Topic position

Section 10 of 13

Practice

23 questions

Recall

15 flashcards

🎓 Higher Tier: Other Types of Chromatography

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Stationary phase: Thin layer of silica gel on glass/plastic plate
Advantages: Faster, better resolution than paper chromatography
Uses: Drug analysis, pharmaceutical quality control

Gas Chromatography (GC)

Mobile phase: Inert gas (helium or nitrogen) carried through a heated column
Stationary phase: Liquid coating inside a long, coiled tube
Uses: Analysing volatile compounds, forensic analysis, breathalyser tests
Advantage: Extremely sensitive — can detect parts per billion

All chromatography types share the same principle: components separate because of different affinities for the mobile and stationary phases.

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Chromatography. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Memory Aid Exam Focus The Science Behind Solving Crimes What is Chromatography?

Practice Questions for Chromatography

What is the purpose of chromatography?

A. To separate the components of a mixture
B. To measure the mass of a substance
C. To change a substance from a solid to a liquid
D. To make a substance more concentrated

1 markfoundation

Explain how a chromatogram can be used to determine whether a substance is pure or a mixture.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What does Rf stand for and what does it measure?

Rf = Retention factor. It measures how far a substance travels compared to the solvent (distance moved by substance ÷ distance moved by solvent)

What is chromatography?

A separation technique used to separate mixtures into their individual components based on different affinities for mobile and stationary phases

23 questions on Chromatography — practise free

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