What is chromatography primarily used for?

Chromatography is primarily used to separate mixtures based on the different affinities of the components within the mixture to a stationary phase and a mobile phase. This technique is particularly valuable in analytical chemistry for identifying and quantifying substances in a mixture, such as inks, dyes, and various chemical compounds.

Through the process of chromatography, substances move at different rates, allowing them to be effectively isolated from one another. This separation is critical in a variety of applications, including testing for purity in drug manufacturing, environmental monitoring of pollutants, and food quality control.

While combining substances, measuring temperature, and creating pure substances are relevant to different chemical processes, they do not accurately describe the primary function of chromatography, which is about the separation and identification of components in a mixture.