Chromatography is a technique for separating mixtures into their components based on their affinities to a mobile and stationary phase, which is commonly used in forensic science, pharmaceuticals, and environmental analysis. The document details several types of chromatography, including liquid, gas, paper, and thin-layer chromatography, along with their applications in identifying and analyzing substances. Additionally, it describes a laboratory experiment using paper chromatography to separate dyes from Sharpie pens and discusses variations and alternative experiments.