ABSTRACT
Chromatography is primarily a tool for the separation of compounds. It provides no inkling of the time which may be consumed in achieving separation nor does it guarantee that the zones are readily detectable. Resolution is occasionally awkward to work with in the study of optimal separation because the denominator, by virtue of its square root character, is no longer a convenient sum of individual terms. The speed of separation is significant criterion, the gratification of which will erode away the optimum domain based on the resolution concept. Convenience, practicality with available equipment, detectability, and sample size are other criteria which must usually be considered along with resolution. While the theoretical limit may not be easily achieved in either liquid or gas chromatography, a discussion of this limit will show the nature of various factors which, unfortunately, restrain the indefinite increase in separating power.
