Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

eluent

noun

ˈel-yənt

Definition

A solvent that is used in chromatography to carry a component of a mixture through a column.

Examples

The eluent used in the experiment was a mixture of water and ethanol.
Different eluents can drastically affect the separation of compounds in chromatography.
After running the eluent through the column, the researcher observed distinct bands for the compounds.

Meaning

In chromatography, an eluent is the liquid that moves through a medium, helping to separate components based on their different affinities for the medium.