What is gas chromatography (GC)?

Mixtures of gases or vaporizable substances can be separated through gas chromatography. In this method, helical tubes with small diameters are used, through which the gas stream is then led. These separation columns can either be packed columns or capillary columns which are lined with the stationary phase. The separation process itself is based on interactions between the compounds of the mobile phase and the stationary phase. These may be for example hydrogen bridge bonds or van der Waals bonds.