Why should chromatography paper be handled minimally?

Chromatography paper should be handled minimally primarily to avoid contamination from substances such as amino acids present in sweat. When individuals handle the paper, oils, salts, and other residues from the skin can transfer onto the surface. This contamination can interfere with the chromatography process by altering the results, impacting the separation and identification of components during the experiment. Proper handling ensures that the integrity of the sample is maintained and that the results remain reliable and free from unwanted variable influences caused by external contaminants.

Maintaining the cleanliness of chromatography paper is crucial for achieving accurate and reproducible results, which is essential in analytical chemistry and various applications of chromatography.