If a solid is dissolved in a mixture of two liquids that don't mix it will distribute, or partition, itself between both liquids. In this topic we explore the partition equilibria of a solid between two immiscible liquids.
After working through this topic you will be able to:
- understand why some liquids are immiscible and why solutes are more soluble in some liquids than in others;
- understand what is meant by the partition coefficient;
- devise a teaching sequence to introduce and develop ideas about partition equilibria; and
- describe contexts in which partition equilibria are important.