Chromatography in drug analysis is used to do what?

• A. To measure exact concentrations.
• B. To sequence DNA.
• C. To identify light spectra.
• D. To separate and tentatively identify components of a mixture.

Answer: (D)

Chromatography separates components of a mixture by differences in how they partition between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. In drug analysis, this separation creates distinct signals for each compound, so you can compare their retention times to known standards and use detectors (often with additional spectral data) to tentatively identify what’s present. While you can quantify amounts with proper calibration, the primary value here is separating the mixture and enabling identification, not sequencing DNA or analyzing light spectra. So, chromatography is used to separate and tentatively identify components of a mixture.