chromatography

n. method of separating mixtures and identifying their components (Chemistry)

Chromatography (from Greek χρώμα:chroma, colour and γραφειν:"grafein" to write) is the collective term for a family of laboratory techniques for the separation of mixtures. It involves passing a mixture dissolved in a "mobile phase" through a stationary phase, which separates the analyte to be measured from other molecules in the mixture and allows it to be isolated.
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Chromatography /chro·ma·tog·ra·phy/ a method of separating and identifying the components of a complex mixture by differential movement through a [more]Chromatography - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a process used for separating mixtures by virtue of differences in absorbency
(hypernym) natural process, natural action, action, activity
(hyponym) column chromatography

(n.)
A treatise on colors