Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Compound B refers to another substance or component being separated and analyzed in a chromatographic experiment alongside Compound A. Its behavior on the plate helps determine its properties and interactions relative to other compounds.
Related terms
Retention Time: The time it takes for a compound to travel from the point of injection to its peak in a chromatogram. Retention time helps identify and distinguish different compounds within a mixture.
Affinity: The degree of attraction or force between two substances. In chromatography, affinity refers to how strongly a compound interacts with the stationary phase relative to other compounds.
Baseline: The horizontal line at the bottom of a chromatogram that represents no separation or elution occurring. It is used as a reference point for measuring retention times and peak heights.