Final answer:
In chromatography, good peaks are symmetrical and efficient (narrow), which leads to better resolution. Broad and non-Gaussian peaks are typically not indicative of a successful separation. Peak height doesn't directly relate to the order of elution since it can be affected by analyte concentration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chromatographic peaks and their characteristics are important in understanding the efficiency of a separation process. First to address the student's statements:
- B. Good chromatographic peaks are symmetrical: True, a symmetrical peak indicates that the compound has interacted uniformly with the stationary phase, contributing to sharper peaks and better separation.
- C. High efficiency (narrow) chromatographic peaks have a better chance of being resolved from one another: This is also true as high efficiency indicates sharper peaks, which allows for better resolution.
Regarding the statement A. Good chromatographic peaks are usually broad and present a non-Gaussian shape, it is inaccurate, as good peaks are usually sharp and have a Gaussian shape. Lastly, the statement D. The peak height is directly related to the order of elution is not universally true, as the peak height can be influenced by various factors such as the concentration of the analyte rather than the order of elution.