Question

The percent water in methyl alcohol can be determined by gas chromatography using
a capillary column coated with a non-polar stationary phase and a thermal
conductivity detector. A series of calibration standards yielded the following results:
Water content (% w/w) Peak height (arbitrary units)
0.00 1.15
0.0145 2.74
0.0472 6.33
0.0951 11.58
0.1757 20.43
0.2901 32.97

Answer 1

Why are chromatographic peaks broader than would be expected solely on
the basis of the random nature of solute migration through a chromatographic
column?