Partition Coefficient

The partition coefficient describes how a substance distributes itself between two different liquids, usually oil and water, when they are mixed. It indicates whether the substance prefers to dissolve more in the oily phase or the watery phase. A high partition coefficient means the substance mainly dissolves in oil (lipophilic), while a low value means it prefers water (hydrophilic). This concept helps understand how drugs are absorbed or how chemicals will behave in environments like the body or in separation processes, guiding scientists in designing effective compounds and separation methods.