A gas introduced in order to transport a sample for analytical purposes. In gas
chromatography it is the gas which is passed continuously through the column and whose passage promotes
the
elution of the components of the sample. The
carrier gas together with the portions of the sample present in this phase constitutes the
mobile phase.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167
(Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990))
on page 2178