While chemistry is omnipresent in the world of the living, chemistry also rules the mineral world. And whereas organic chemistry mainly deals with the chemistry of carbon-based molecules, mineral (or inorganic) chemistry deals with all atoms.
 

Chromatography is a separation method that helps sort out a mix of molecules by spreading them over a support.
The separation occurs because the molecules (shown here as beads) have different affinities with the support over which they are applied. The various peaks symbolize this affinity which varies according to the molecules selected.
Run the test yourself and see how the starting mix is sorted at the end.