Chromatography is used to separate a mixture of soluble substances and identify them
In paper chromatography a spot of the test substance is added to chromatography paper. It is put on a baseline which is drawn with pencil. Then the end of the paper is placed in a solvent, with the solvent just above the baseline
The solvent travels up the paper and carries the test substance with it. The furthest point the solvent reaches is called the solvent front
Different substances will move up the paper at different rates
Some will stick to the paper and others will dissolve more readily in the solvent and travel more quickly