where () is the specific retention volume of a complexing solute  with a vapor pressure () with a pure complexing stationary phase having a molecular weight ();

 

where () is the specific retention volume of a complexing solute  with a vapor pressure () with a pure noncomplexing stationary phase having a molecular weight ().

 

 

If the two stationary phases have the same physical properties, except for one being polar (having a complexing capability), then a reasonable assumption would be that,

By rearranging,