jaotusteguri

Jaotustegur, also known as the distribution coefficient or partition coefficient, is a dimensionless quantity that describes the ratio of the concentrations of a substance dissolved in two immiscible solvents at equilibrium. It is typically represented by the symbol K_D or P. The value of the jaotustegur is dependent on the specific solute and the two solvents chosen, as well as the temperature.

In practice, the jaotustegur is determined experimentally by equilibrating a known amount of solute between two immiscible phases. Once equilibrium is reached, the concentration of the solute in each phase is measured, and the ratio is calculated. A high jaotustegur indicates that the solute preferentially dissolves in one solvent over the other. For example, a compound with a high jaotustegur between octanol and water is considered lipophilic (fat-loving), meaning it will dissolve more readily in octanol than in water.

The concept of the jaotustegur is fundamental in various scientific disciplines. In pharmacology and toxicology, it is used to predict how a drug or toxic substance will distribute within the body, influencing its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. In environmental science, it helps understand the partitioning of pollutants between water and soil or sediments. Chromatography, a separation technique, also relies on the differential partitioning of analytes between a stationary and a mobile phase, which is directly related to their jaotustegurid.