Curve resolution is a class of techniques concerned with estimating profile
s underlying a set of measurements of time-evolving chemical systems. In ge
neral, the estimated profiles are not unique. Both intensity and rotational
ambiguities exist in the solutions of these problems. Constraints can be i
mposed on the solution to decrease the ambiguity. Some chemical systems sho
w closure. It is proven that imposing a closure constraint is sufficient to
solve the intensity ambiguity but not the rotational ambiguity. Some curve
resolution techniques are concerned with estimating reaction rate or equil
ibrium constants from measurements of evolving systems. Then a kinetic mode
l is imposed on the measured data. It is proven that imposing a certain cla
ss of kinetic models is sufficient to solve both the rotational and the int
ensity ambiguity. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley gr Sons, Ltd.