Define about the Paper Chromatography?

Paper chromatography is a very useful technique for separating mixtures of metal ions, anions, amino acids, sugars, dyes, drugs, etc. The chief factor responsible for separation of ingredients by paper chromatography is partition. Any paper used should have space in the interstices. It is in the interstices, that molecules of one phase is embedded. Hence paper like Whatman No. l, 3 are used.

The paper functions as an inert support when the mobile phase moves along the paper, the substances applied as a spot on the paper are partitioned between the mobile solvent and molecules of the static solvent embedded in the interstices of the paper. As the partition coefficient may be different for different substances, the rates of migration of substances along the paper are also different and thus separation takes place.