What is Retention Factor in Chromatography?

 Definition of Retention Factor in Chromatography

The retention factor in chromatography is the ratio of the distance traveled by a substance to the distance traveled by the mobile phase during chromatographic separation. It is a numerical value used to describe the relative movement of a component within a chromatographic system. The retention factor provides a standardized way to compare the migration of substances under identical experimental conditions. In chromatography, the retention factor is treated as a characteristic value for a given substance in a specific system. The term retention factor refers only to this distance ratio and does not include calculation methods, influencing factors, or result interpretation.