Partition chromatography separates components primarily based on what property?

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Partition chromatography works because separation hinges on how a compound distributes itself between two immiscible liquid phases. Each component has a certain solubility in the mobile phase versus the stationary phase, described by its partition coefficient. If a solute is more soluble in the mobile phase, it moves faster; if it prefers the stationary phase, it lags. The differences in solubility between the two phases drive the separation, making solubility the key factor. Polarity influences solubility, but it’s the solubility distribution itself that governs the process. Charge and molecular size are the main factors in other techniques (ion-exchange and size-exclusion), not the primary driver here.