What is Chromatography primarily used for?

Chromatography is primarily utilized for separating and analyzing components in a mixture. This technique leverages the differences in the physical or chemical properties of substances to achieve separation. In a typical chromatography process, a mixture is passed through a stationary phase (such as a solid or a liquid) while a mobile phase (which can be a liquid or gas) carries the components of the mixture. Due to their varying affinities for the stationary phase, different components migrate at different rates, which allows for their separation.

Once components are separated, chromatography can also facilitate the quantitative and qualitative analysis of those components. This capability is fundamental in various applications including pharmaceuticals, environmental testing, and food safety, making chromatography an essential tool in analytical chemistry.

The other options focus on different scientific principles that do not pertain to the core function of chromatography. Measuring temperature variations relates to thermometry, detecting electrical currents pertains to electrical engineering and instrumentation, and determining molecular weight is typically associated with techniques like mass spectrometry rather than chromatography.