Consider
one substance. There is:
|
a holding
ability between the particles and the particles
of the paper; |
|
a holding
ability between the particles and the particles
of solvent. |
How far the sample is dragged depends on the relative
strengths of these holding abilities.
|
If
the hold onto the paper is much stronger, the sample
will not move.
If the hold onto the solvent is much stronger, the
sample will move with the solvent front.
The trick is to find a solvent that gives the right
balance - this is often a mixture.
|