CHEMICAL FRACTIONATION Meaning and
Definition
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Chemical fractionation refers to the process of separating a mixture of chemicals into its individual components or fractions based on their unique chemical properties. This technique involves the use of various physical and chemical processes to selectively isolate and purify the desired constituent substances.
The process of chemical fractionation typically begins with the initial mixture, which may consist of different substances with varying chemical compositions. Through the application of different separation techniques, such as distillation, extraction, or chromatography, the components are separated based on factors like boiling point, polarity, solubility, or molecular weight.
Distillation is commonly employed in chemical fractionation to separate substances based on their different boiling points. By heating the mixture, the component with the lower boiling point vaporizes first and is then condensed into a separate container, allowing for its isolation. This process is repeated multiple times to separate the different components.
Extraction involves using a solvent to selectively dissolve one or more components from the mixture. The solvent is chosen based on its ability to preferentially dissolve the desired substance, while leaving the others behind. The dissolved substance can then be separated by evaporating the solvent or through other purification techniques.
Chromatography refers to a technique where a mixture is separated by passing it through a medium, such as a solid or liquid phase, where the different components interact differently with the medium. This causes them to separate and form distinct bands or spots, which can then be collected and further purified.
Chemical fractionation is widely used in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, food science, environmental analysis, and petroleum refining, among others. It allows for the isolation, identification, and purification of specific chemical compounds from complex mixtures, enabling further characterization and analysis.
Common Misspellings for CHEMICAL FRACTIONATION
- xhemical fractionation
- vhemical fractionation
- fhemical fractionation
- dhemical fractionation
- cgemical fractionation
- cbemical fractionation
- cnemical fractionation
- cjemical fractionation
- cuemical fractionation
- cyemical fractionation
- chwmical fractionation
- chsmical fractionation
- chdmical fractionation
- chrmical fractionation
- ch4mical fractionation
- ch3mical fractionation
- chenical fractionation
- chekical fractionation
- chejical fractionation
- chemucal fractionation
Etymology of CHEMICAL FRACTIONATION
The word "chemical" originated from the Late Latin word "chemia", which derived from the Greek word "kheimeia" meaning "art of transmuting metals". This Greek term is said to have roots in the Egyptian word "kem" or "kemi", which refers to the black land (the fertile soil around the Nile). Over time, "chemia" came to mean "alchemy" and eventually evolved to "chemistry".
On the other hand, "fractionation" is derived from the Latin word "fractio", meaning "act of breaking" or "a broken part". It comes from the stem word "frangere", meaning "to break".
Put together, "chemical fractionation" refers to the process of separating or breaking down a substance into its fractions or components using chemical methods.
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