Octanol/water partition coefficient

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-019349",
  "term": "Octanol/water partition coefficient",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definitions": [
    "A coefficient representing the ratio of the solubility of a compound in octanol (a non-polar solvent) to its solubility in water (a polar solvent). The higher the Kow, the more non-polar the compound. Log Kow is generally used as a relative indicator of the tendency of an organic compound to adsorb to soil. Log Kow values are generally inversely related to aqueous solubility and directly proportional to molecular weight.",
    "(log value) Ratio of a chemical that has reached equilibrium in adjacent fractions of octanol and water. This ratio is used frequently to estimate how an organic chemical will partition in the environment (e.g., between dissolved and sorbed fractions in surface water) as well as how it will behave in with respect to human tissues. A compound with a high octanol-water partition coefficient is more likely to bioaccumulate in human tissues, especially fatty tissues."
  ],
  "abbreviation": "Kow",
  "subject": [
    "Land, waste and cleanup",
    "Chemicals, toxics and pesticides"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Glossary of Technical Terms: Office of Underground Storage Tanks",
    "EPA ExpoBox Terminology"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/octanol-water-partition-coefficient/"
}