A general study was carried out to investigate the relationship between analytes (organic solvents) and matrix medium (ionic liquids, ILs) by headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) in order to provide a guidance to choose a suitable matrix medium during the process of experiment. Thirteen ILs contained different cations or anions and two kinds of organic solvents (alkylogens and aprotic solvents which involved ability of pro-proton) performed different interactions with ILs were chosen in this study. The concentrations of analytes in headspace were determined by HS-GC and then logK (the logarithm of concentration radio between matrix medium and headspace) was calculated respectively. Factors which affect logic, such as logP(o/w) (the logarithm of the octanol/water partition coefficient for a solvent) for different cations (including parent nucleus and alkyl chains) and anions of ILs, were investigated. The results indicated that the longer alkyl chains, the lower polarity of parent nucleus and the higher polarity of anions performed the higher headspace efficiency for alkylogens. Meanwhile, the shorter alkyl chains and the lower polarity of parent nucleus make the higher headspace efficiency for aprotic solvents which involved ability of pro-proton. For both kinds of organic solvents, anions of ILs performed little influences to headspace efficiency. The relationship between ILs and organic solvents was primarily investigated and a helpful guidance was provided for the application of ILs as matrix medium to analyze solvents by HS-GC. The model was successfully used to determine the organic residual solvents in ketoconanzale to choose a suitable ionic liquid during the process of HS-GC. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.