Use of factor analysis and liquid chromatography to determine the number of species in reactions of potassium ions with selected polyethers

Abstract factor analysis is used to determine the number of species in chemical systems from data obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography. Retention data for the systems involving the reaction between potassium ions and three polyethers, benzo-5-crown-5, dibenzo-18-crown-6, and dibenzo-24-crown-8, were obtained in methanol at room temperature. The experimental data were factor-analyzed in order to yield the number of species in the reacting system. In addition to the usual criteria, it is proposed that tree-dimensional graphs of calculated data be compared to three-dimensional graphs of raw data in order to evaluate the factor space. It is also suggested that the three-dimensional graphs showing the residual error matrix be examined as a tool in the evaluation of the factor space. Two species were found from the reaction between benzo-15-crown-5 and potassium, one from dibenzo-18-crown-6-, and there from dibenzo-24-crown-8 in methanol.