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Capacity Factor given Partition Coefficient and Volume of Mobile and Stationary Phase Calculator

Capacity Factor Formula:

\[ k_c' = K \times \left( \frac{V_s}{V_{mobile}} \right) \]

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1. What is Capacity Factor?

Definition: The capacity factor (kc') is a parameter that describes how long a compound is retained on the chromatography column relative to the mobile phase flow.

Purpose: It helps in characterizing the retention behavior of compounds in chromatographic separations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ k_c' = K \times \left( \frac{V_s}{V_{mobile}} \right) \]

Where:

Explanation: The capacity factor is directly proportional to the partition coefficient and the ratio of stationary to mobile phase volumes.

3. Importance of Capacity Factor

Details: The capacity factor is crucial for:

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good capacity factor value?
A: Ideal values are typically between 1 and 10. Values below 1 indicate poor retention, while values above 10 may result in excessively long retention times.

Q2: How does capacity factor relate to retention time?
A: Retention time (tR) = t0(1 + kc'), where t0 is the void time.

Q3: What affects the partition coefficient (K)?
A: K depends on the compound's chemical nature, stationary phase chemistry, mobile phase composition, and temperature.

Q4: Can capacity factor be less than 1?
A: Yes, but values < 1 indicate the compound spends more time in the mobile phase than stationary phase.

Q5: How do I measure the phase volumes?
A: Stationary phase volume is determined by column dimensions and packing density. Mobile phase volume can be measured by void time experiments.

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