Qualitative understanding of partition preferences

Introduction
Cavity model
Rules for partitioning
The cavity model in quantitative terms

Selftest
Problems
     1) Give a qualitative explanation
     2) Estimate the extraction efficiency
           Answer
     3) Assign partition constants to substances
           Answer
     4) Fuel accident
           Answer
     5) Mixture of similar isomeres ... ?
           Answer
     6) Extraction with pentane or diethyl ether?
     7) Prediction of partition constants
           Answer
     8) Assign data to substances
           Answer
     9) Explain saturated vapor pressure
     10) Apolar surface
Intermolecular interactions in every day life
FAQ

4) Fuel accident

 

Question:

Fuel was spilled in a traffic accident. The local water supplier is concerned that this fuel may have reached the ground water table. In order to set up a worst-case scenario, you are asked to estimate the fuel /water partition constants of various phenols and anilines, which are known to occur in trace amounts in the fuel. In the literature you can only find the fuel/water partition constants of alkylaromatic compounds, ethers, and ketones (see figure). Can you use this knowledge to estimate the fuel/water partition constants of phenols and anilines whose octanol/water partition coefficients are known? (The fuel is a mixture of alkanes and alkylaromatic compounds and Methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE)).

 

proceed to answer