Question

The partition coefficient of X between liquids A and B is 10. The partition coefficient of X between B and A is​

Answer 1

Answer:

the physical sciences, a partition coefficient (P) or distribution coefficient (D) is the ratio of concentrations of a compound in a mixture of two immiscible solvents at equilibrium. This ratio is therefore a comparison of the solubilities of the solute in these two liquids. The partition coefficient generally refers to the concentration ratio of un-ionized species of compound, whereas the distribution coefficient refers to the concentration ratio of all species of the compound (ionized plus un-ionized).[1]

In the chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, both phases usually are solvents.[2] Most commonly, one of the solvents is water, while the second is hydrophobic, such as 1-octanol.[3] Hence the partition coefficient measures how hydrophilic ("water-loving") or hydrophobic ("water-fearing") a chemical substance is. Partition coefficients are useful in estimating the distribution of drugs within the body. Hydrophobic drugs with high octanol-water partition coefficients are mainly distributed to hydrophobic areas such as lipid bilayers of cells. Conversely, hydrophilic drugs (low octanol/water partition coefficients) are found primarily in aqueous regions such as blood serum.[4]

Answer 2

Given: The partition coefficient of X between liquids A and B is 10.

To find: The partition coefficient of X between B and A

Explanation:

Partition coefficient of a substance shows its extent of dissolution in two types of solvent. It helps to predict the nature of the substance- whether it is hydrophilic or lipophilic in nature.

$K_{A/B} = \frac{LiquidA}{Liquid B} =\frac{10}{1}$

This indicate that substance X is 10 times more soluble in liquid A.

We can say, concentration of X in Liquid A is 10 units.

Concentration of X in liquid B is 1 unit.

Then, the partition coefficient of X between B and A would be:

$K_{B/A} = \frac{LiquidB}{Liquid A} =\frac{1}{10} = 0.1$

The partition coefficient of X between B and A would be 0.1