Home
Back
Partition Coefficient Formula:
| From: | To: |
The partition coefficient (P) is a measure of how a compound distributes itself between two immiscible solvents, typically an organic phase and an aqueous phase. It is defined as the ratio of the compound's concentration in the organic phase to its concentration in the aqueous phase at equilibrium.
The calculator uses the partition coefficient formula:
Where:
Explanation: The partition coefficient indicates the relative solubility of a compound in two different phases and is a key parameter in pharmaceutical and environmental sciences.
Details: Partition coefficient is crucial for predicting drug absorption, distribution, and environmental fate of chemicals. It helps in understanding how substances move through biological membranes and environmental systems.
Tips: Enter concentrations in mol/L for both organic and aqueous phases. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What does a high partition coefficient indicate?
A: A high P value indicates that the compound is more soluble in the organic phase than in the aqueous phase.
Q2: How is partition coefficient related to lipophilicity?
A: Partition coefficient is a direct measure of lipophilicity - compounds with higher P values are more lipophilic.
Q3: What are typical units for partition coefficient?
A: Partition coefficient is a dimensionless quantity, but concentrations are typically measured in mol/L or g/L.
Q4: How does temperature affect partition coefficient?
A: Partition coefficient generally decreases with increasing temperature as solubility relationships change.
Q5: What is the difference between partition coefficient and distribution coefficient?
A: Partition coefficient refers to neutral species, while distribution coefficient accounts for all forms of a compound including ionized species.