Fundamental Groups in the Response of Flame Ionization Detectors to Oxygenated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

It is proposed that the relative responses of oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbons in flame ionization detectors are due to certain fundamental polyatomic groups which can be assigned specific responses based on weight per cent carbon content. The formation of these groups would depend on the mode of thermal breakdown of the molecule on entering the flame. Data from the literature and further experimental results are examined in view of these possibilities.