Use of Chemical Reagents in Chromatography

To locate the separated compounds in chromatogram gases, liquids and solids are used. Most common is spraying liquid chemicals on to the developed chromatogram. Such chemical that is been used in most chromatographic studies, is ninhydrin. Ninhydrin is sprayed to locate amino acids. After applying ninhydrin amino acids will be appeared in pink to purple colour. The reaction between ninhydrin and the amino acid as follows. The compound which is the outcome of the reaction will be pink to purple depending on the amino acid type.