ABSTRACT
The interactions of analyte molecules with liquid phase i.e stationary phase in gas-liquid or liquid-liquid chromatography, mobile phase in liquid chromatography and/or solid phase i.e stationary phase in gas-solid chromatography or liquid-solid chromatography are of prime importance from the viewpoint of chromatographic separations. The formation of covalent bonds or interactions between strong acids and bases, which yields very stable products, is of no importance in the chromatographic process. All the specific interactions taking place either in the liquid phase or on solid surfaces can be explained on the basis of a modernized concept of acid-base interactions. The molecular complexes are substances with well-defined stoichiometry and geometry and are formed by the interaction of two or more component molecules or ions. Organic electron donor-acceptor complexes also described as charge-transfer complexes, are in addition to inclusion complexes, widely used in chromatographic separation.
