Centrifugation in chemistry

Centrifugation is an important technique used in chemistry, biology and is constantly needed even in daily life. This happens in the centrifuge. But what exactly is centrifugation and what is it used for?

Centrifugation in chemistry - simply explained

• The term centrifugation simply means "spinning out". In chemistry, this allows liquids to be separated, e.g. B. During laboratory tests, the blood is centrifuged to release the plasma.
• You can think of a centrifuge as a centrifuge that spins very quickly. This creates a centrifugal force, so that the contents of the centrifuge (usually a liquid) are pressed outwards.
• Liquids are usually composed of several components that vary in weight. Here one speaks of the specific weight of the elements (components).
• If you think back to your chemistry class at school, you will surely remember that everything is made up of atoms and therefore differs in density.
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• In the centrifuge, the immense rotation creates a strong pressure on the liquids. Since here on earth every element is bound by gravity and therefore has its own weight, react the fabrics with the lighter weight are much more sensitive to the pressure and thus they detach themselves from the heavier ones Component.

Specific examples of centrifugation

• A simple example is milk. It consists of fat and water, which together form an emulsion. These two substances also have different densities.
• To get a better idea of ​​this, look at oil and water. If you pour a spoonful of oil and a spoonful of water into a bowl, the fat will drip much more slowly than the water. During centrifugation, these two elements are separated from each other by the strong centrifugal movement.
• The best way to do this is to imagine the spin dryer in the washing machine. The laundry is really wet before spinning, but the water and clothing have completely different densities and weights.
• When spinning, you can easily watch how the contents of the machine are literally pressed to the edge. A driving effect is created, whereby the water with the lower density is driven more strongly to the outside - the two substances are separated.

This is of course a very simple example, but basically the same. The centrifuges that are in the chemistry are used, of course, work much finer. It can even be used to separate gas mixtures and isotopes.