A comparative study has been made of the dependence of the parameters of retention (capacity coefficient, relative retention, retention indices) of organic compounds on the average pressure of the carrier gas in the column, with the use of helium and sulphur hexafluoride as the carrier gases, and SE-30 and PEG-20 M as the stationary liquid phase, The marked change in retention when helium is replaced with sulphur hexachloride as the carrier gas makes it possible to regard the carrier gas as a factor influencing the retention and separation of the compounds analysed.