Gas-liquid chromatographic analyses of three complete series of synthetic positional isomers of methyl thia, selena, and tellura laurate analogs were carried on a nonpolar (SE-30) and a polar (SP-2330) stationary phase. The average ECL (equivalent chain length) values of the thia, selena, and tellura laurate on SE-30 stationary phase were 13.8, 14.8, and 15.7, respectively, while on SP-2330 the average values for the same series were 17.1, 19.0, and 19.1, respectively. Positional isomers with the heteroatom at the 2-position exhibited the lowest ECL values, while those with the heteroatom at the omega-1 position gave the highest ECL values and were readily separated from the other positional isomers of the same series of analogs by this technique.