For demonstrating the presumption that on the hydrous zirconium oxide loaded porous polymer resin (Zr-gel) under alkaline pH the recognition of a position of hydroxyl or carboxyl group was ascribed to formation of a chelate ring, the retention behaviors of hydroxyl and other substituent aliphatic carboxylic acids were evaluated on titania synthesized in this laboratory and compared with those of zirconia provided by the manufacturer. The retention behavior supported the formation of chelate ring and suggested the priority of forming a five-membered ring. On comparison titania and zirconia, the distinct elution order was shown in retention behavior of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids. It might be ascribed to the difference in the bond angle and distance between metal ion and two oxygen atoms of hydroxyl group and carboxylate anion on formation of chelate ring.