When the retention time, tR, is held constant, the column that produces peaks with narrower bases,
wb, will be more
efficient – have a greater N value.
Likewise a column that produces wider peaks will be less efficient
– have a smaller N value.
This is
because a smaller denominator, wb, will yield a larger overall number and
a larger denominator will yield a smaller number.
Larger N
Smaller N
tR
tR
wb
wb