Water Solubility

Water solubility (S_W), also know as aqueous solubility, is the maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve in water at equilibrium at a given temperature and pressure. An easy way to visualize it is to think of what the maximum amount of sugar you can dissolve in your coffee would be. S_W values are usually expressed as moles of solute per liter. This parameter is used in many environmental studies to help determine the fate of chemicals in the environment. Water solubility has been correlated to the octanol-water partition coefficient (K_ow), another chemical parameter used to determine the fate of chemicals in the environment.

More Information

• The search for reliable aqueous solubility (SW) and octanol-water partition coefficient (KOW) data for hydrophobic organic compounds--DDT and DDE as a case study : U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4201
• How Reliable are Chemical Property Data in the Literature?
• Assessing the reliability of physico-chemical property data (K ow , S w ) for hydrophobic organic compounds: DDT and DDE as a case study, Eganhouse, R.P., Pontolillo J., 2002, SETAC Globe -- A series of articles that appeared in the SETAC Globe Newsletter
• The K_ow Controversy, Renner, Rebecca, 2002, Environmental Science and Technology, v. 36, no. 21, p. 411A-413A.
• Landmark Book Published on the Fate of Contaminants in the Environment: Partition and Adsorption of Organic Contaminants in Environmental Systems
• Estimating the Environmental Behavior of Inorganic and Organometal Contaminants: Solubilities, Bioaccumulation, and Acute Aquatic Toxicities : Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018B, p 447-482
• Solubility: Why Do Some Solids Dissolve In Water? Purdue University
  

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