Chromatography is a high-performance physical separation technique, which is used in analytical chemistry with suitable measurement approach.

The first application of chromatography is used to separate plant pigments. The method is: put calcium carbonate in a glass tube, and put petroleum ether containing plant pigments (extraction liquid of plant leaf) into the tube. The upper side of glass tube immediately appears mixed bands with several colors. Then, use pure petroleum ether to wash. With the adding of pure petroleum ether, the bands move down constantly, and are separated gradually into different colors ones. Continuously using pure petroleum ether to wash can obtain various kinds of pigments, and can be identified respectively. Chromatography is thus named.

Now, chromatography has not been limited in separation of pigments, and has been a great development. But, its separation principle remains the same. We also call it chromatography.