Question

The organic compound present in traces in living cells can be detected and isolated by

• A. Centrifugation
• B. Tracer technique
• C. Chromatography
• D. Microscopy

Answer 1

The correct option is C Chromatography

Chromatography is the collective term for a set of laboratory techniques for the separation of mixtures. The mixture is dissolved in a fluid called as the mobile phase, which carries it through a structure holding another material called the stationary phase. The various constituents of the mixture travel at different speeds, causing them to separate. Chromatography may be preparative or analytical. The purpose of preparative chromatography is to separate the components of a mixture for more advanced use and is thus a form of purification. Analytical chromatography is done normally with smaller amounts of material and is for measuring the relative proportions of analytes in a mixture. The two are not mutually exclusive. The organic compound present in traces in living cells can be detected and isolated by chromatographic techniques. Thus, option C is correct. Tracer technique and microscopy are not used to isolate organic compounds. Centrifugation can be used to isolate organic compounds but, it is difficult with the trace amount isolation.