In elution chromatography (Ion-exchange) outline the order of elution for the following cationic species: Cu2+, Fe3+, Ag+ and Na+?

Question

I understand it has to do with polarity, but in which sense i.e does the least polar/most polar species elute first?

Thanks

Answer 1

This looks like cation chromatography.

The elution order is determined by the charge of the ions: the more positively charged the ion, the more it will be retained (i.e., Fe3+ will have the highest retention time and Na^+ will have lowest, due to it being lighter than Ag^+).