Getting Started in HPLC

Section 0. The Language of HPLC: W

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z
   
WAVELENGTH: a measure of the "color" of light; LC detectors select light of a certain wavelength (measured in nanometers, nm) to pass through the flow cell for measurement of sample peaks. Because UV detectors use ultraviolet light, the light used by the detector is normally invisible to the human eye.


  
WEAK SOLVENT or MOBILE PHASE: a weak mobile phase gives longer retention times for sample bands, compared to a strong mobile phase. Water is a weak solvent and methanol and acetonitrile are strong solvents for reversed-phase chromatography. Mobile phases with more water will be weaker, and mobile phases with more organic solvent will be stronger. A 20% methanol/water mobile phase is weaker than 80% methanol/water.


  
   
 

 

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Last revised: April 02, 2001.