Which of the following is NOT true about chromatography?

Chromatography is a versatile technique that separates components of a mixture based on their movement through a medium, which can be gas, liquid, or solid, depending on the type of chromatography being employed. The method relies on the differential affinity of substances for the stationary phase and the mobile phase.

The statement regarding the use of chromatography solely for solid substances is not accurate. Chromatography can be performed on mixtures that consist of gases, liquids, or solids. For example, liquid chromatography is used to separate liquid mixtures, while gas chromatography is applicable to vaporized substances. Therefore, the applicability of chromatography extends far beyond solid substances alone.

In addition to the correct understanding of mixture types, the technique inherently involves the use of a solvent or mobile phase to transport the analytes through the stationary phase, which aligns with other statements regarding the separation process. The diverse application forms, such as using paper chromatography with various dyes, further highlight the broad capability of chromatography to separate not just solids but many different types of mixtures.