Reading a chromatogram without over-interpreting it

A chromatogram plots detector response against time. The main peak represents the dominant species eluting from the column under the stated conditions.

Peak-area percentage is a relative measure. Species that do not absorb at the detection wavelength are not represented in it.

Retention time is only comparable within the same method, column and gradient. Comparing retention times across laboratories without matching conditions is not meaningful.

Baseline noise, integration limits and injection volume all influence the reported figure, which is why the method section of a report matters as much as the number.