In: Chemistry
the molecular interactions that are present among non-polar molecules are vandewaal forces. These vanderwaal forces of attractions are directly proportional to the surface area of the molecules. Thus, the surface area increases in the order Xylene (C6H4-(CH3)2) > toluene (C6H5-CH3) > Benzene (C6H6) and the boiling points also increases in the same order Xylene (C6H4-(CH3)2)(144 oC) > toluene (C6H5-CH3) (110 oC) > Benzene (C6H6)(80 oC)
If a component has a low boiling point, then it is likely to spend more time in the gas phase. Therefore its retention time will be lower than a compound with a higher boiling point. Thus, Benzene has lowest retension time and o-xylene has highest rentension time.