What does the abbreviation 'HPLC' stand for in chemical analysis?

The abbreviation 'HPLC' stands for High Performance Liquid Chromatography. This term is widely used in analytical chemistry and biochemistry to describe an advanced technique for separating, identifying, and quantifying compounds present in a mixture.

The term "High Performance" indicates that this method provides better separation and resolution of components compared to traditional liquid chromatography techniques, which may not be able to achieve the same level of efficiency. HPLC employs high pressures to push solvent through a column packed with a stationary phase, allowing for quicker and more effective separation of compounds based on their interactions with the stationary and mobile phases.

This technique is crucial in various applications, such as pharmaceuticals, environmental analysis, and food safety, as it allows for precise and reliable analysis of complex mixtures.