The aim of this book is to describe the essential theory and practice of gas chromatography in sufficient detail for the analyst to carry out and understand a gas chromatographic separation. It is not designed as a comprehensive volume on the technique, nor is it intended to replace practical experience. Having read the book and completed the assessments, the reader should appreciate not only the essentials of gas chromatography as an analytical tool, but also have an understanding of the main causes of errors or poor analysis. The distance learning approach used in this book makes it ideal for the analyst who needs a practical introduction to gas chromatography. This series provides a uniquely comprehensive and integrated coverage of analytical chemistry, covering basic concepts, classical methods, instrumental techniques and applications. The learning objectives of each text are clearly identified and the student's understanding of the material is constantly challenged by self-assessment questions with reinforcing or remedial responses. The overall objective of Analytical Chemistry by Open Learning is to enable the student to select and apply appropriate methods and techniques to solve analytical problems, and to interpret the results obtained.