Inverse gas chromatography

Do you remember how we separate different colored candies using a sieve or strainer with small holes? In science, we use something called gas chromatography to separate different molecules in a mixture (kind of like how we separate different colored candies). It is like a sieve with small holes, but instead of separating candies, it separates different molecules.

Now, what if we want to figure out what type of molecules we have in our mixture? This is where inverse gas chromatography comes in. Instead of putting a mixture of molecules into the gas chromatograph, we put a known substance (like a gas) and allow it to flow through a small column packed with the sample of molecules we want to analyze.

As this gas flows through the column, it will interact with the sample molecules. By measuring how the gas interacts with the sample molecules, we can figure out the properties of the molecules like their size, shape, and chemical properties. This helps us identify what type of molecules we have in our mixture.

In summary, inverse gas chromatography helps us figure out what type of molecules are in a mixture by using a known substance and measuring how it interacts with the sample molecules.