CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Equilibria
A student investigates the distribution of solute X between water and an organic solvent Y at constant temperature.
Explain what is meant by the term partition coefficient, and discuss how the polarities of the solute and the two solvents affect the numerical value of the partition coefficient.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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