What term describes a sample collected during chromatography elution?

In chromatography, a sample collected during the elution process is referred to as a fraction. This term is used because chromatography separates mixtures into individual components, which are then collected as distinct portions or "fractions" throughout the elution process. Each fraction typically contains a specific compound or mixture of compounds that have been separated based on their various interactions with the stationary phase and the mobile phase used in the chromatography technique.

Other terms, such as "solution," refer more broadly to a homogeneous mixture but do not specifically imply the separation processes involved in chromatography. "Specimen" generally denotes a sample taken for examination, often in a broader biological or clinical context rather than a specific process like chromatography. "Extract" generally indicates a substance obtained by extracting a desired ingredient from a larger mixture but does not emphasize the separation involved in chromatography. Thus, "fraction" is the most accurate description of the samples collected during chromatography elution.