In this communication, we revise some aspects of the [ideal gas/Van der Waa
ls fluid] partition, derived in an earlier publication. The general charact
er of the conclusions concerning the dependence of the partial molar free e
nergy of solution, Delta G(s)(n), on the chain length, n, of linear solute
molecules is shown through the relationship with more general partition for
mulations. Simultaneously, the correction of an error in the expression of
the retention time dependence on the phase ratio of the chromatographic col
umn, beta, is carried out. The misleading source of this error was redundan
t accounting in the solute translational contribution to Delta G(s)(n). (C)
1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.