The chromatographic separations of the alkali metals by means of filter papers impregnated with ammonium molybdophosphate have been investigated.Using alcoholic aqueous solutions of ammonium nitrate and nitric acid as mobile phases,it has been succeeded in separating the alkali metals from each other by the descending technique in a single step.The spots were distinct and compact.The temperature was kept at 25℃ and it took six hours for the development.For various ratios of ethanol to water(1:1 to 5:1),complete separation were obtained when the concentrations of ammonium nitrate and nitric acid were kept at 0.6 M and 0.1 M respectively.The Rf values were Li,0.84; Na,0.75;K,0.53;Rb,0.14; and Cs,0.00 when ethanol to water was in the ratio of 2 to 1.