Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
Handbook notes for this section
Definitions and conditions exactly as the handbook states them.
- The ratio of a chemical's concentration in the octanol phase to its concentration in the aqueous phase of a two-phase octanol-
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 13.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 5.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 6.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 25.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 13.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 5.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 6.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 25.0000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 11.5000 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 23.0000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 5.7500 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 12.6500 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 18.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 4.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 39.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 38.7900 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 18.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 4.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 39.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 38.7900 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 38.7375 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 77.4750 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 19.3688 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 42.6113 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 15.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 5.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 4.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 30.5000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 15.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 5.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 4.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 30.5000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 10.2308 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 20.4615 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 5.1154 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 11.2538 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 11.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 16.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 14.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 6.8000 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 11.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 16.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 14.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 6.8000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = -3.6727 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -7.3455 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -1.8364 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -4.0400 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 17.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 30.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 18.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 42.5000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 17.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 30.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 18.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 42.5000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 36.4236 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 72.8472 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 18.2118 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 40.0660 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 5.5000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 5.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 33.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 13.4900 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 5.5000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 5.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 33.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 13.4900 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = -6.5200 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -13.0400 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -3.2600 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -7.1720 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 10.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 4.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 2.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 7.5000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 10.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 4.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 2.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 7.5000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 4.5600 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 9.1200 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 2.2800 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 5.0160 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 18.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 2.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 31.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 32.8800 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 18.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 2.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 31.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 32.8800 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 33.0333 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 66.0667 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 16.5167 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 36.3367 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 17.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 41.5000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 1.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 35.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 17.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 41.5000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 1.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 35.0000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 40.9868 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 81.9737 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 20.4934 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 45.0855 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 8.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 20.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 17.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 10.5000 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 8.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 20.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 17.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 10.5000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = -7.0000 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -14.0000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -3.5000 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -7.7000 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient