What is retention factor value?

The retention factor value, often denoted as ( R_f ), is a ratio used in chromatography to describe the relative distance traveled by a substance compared to the distance traveled by the solvent front. It is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the analyte by the distance traveled by the solvent front from the baseline. ( R_f ) values range from 0 to 1, with lower values indicating stronger interactions with the stationary phase. This metric helps in identifying and characterizing compounds in various analytical applications.