Question

Going to give it a shot at asking this Question:

Answer 1

@Preetha

Answer 2

How do I calculate the partition coefficient for X, where "X" is acetone in both hexane and aqueous phases.
I understand thats given by:
X: K = [X]hexane/ [X]water
where [X] = acetone. Concentration. But, I wasn't given concentation values for either. Am I missing smoething here?

I have my refractive index values for each, but I don't think I am sure how to use those to find [acetone] in hexane and [acetone] in water and find my partition coefficient.

Answer 3

hmm i think you would need to have a standard addition plot for each solvent varying the concentration and measuring the refractive index. From there you could use the refractive index values you have and extrapolate to the corresponding concentration.

Answer 4

Wait, what? But my solvents are in mixtures of two immiscible phases

Answer 5

i mean, you would have to construct "calibration curves" (refractive index vs concentration). I dont see another way, unless you know how the substance changes the refractive index quantitatively.

Once you have the curves, you can use the refractive index measurement from the samples and determine the concentration by extrapolating from the plot.

Answer 6

I see what you're saying kind of. By calibration curve, are you referring to "standard curve"?

Have you taken a basic course in physical organic?

Answer 7

I've taken some physical chemistry courses, but never one that only focused on organic chem. But yeah, basically a plot of increasing [X] and the refractive index values for each of the solvent. That's a way you could do it, there may be other ways i'm not aware of.

Answer 8

this is more analytical-chem based, though.

Answer 9

Ah. Gotcha. I don't remember this from qual. and gotta figure it out by tmrw. Lol. I think i get what you're saying tho. let me plot my data and see what i can figure out from there. thanks for the input tho. It helped.