Title: partition
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - partition
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.P04435
Status: current

Definition
This term is often used as a synonym for distribution and extraction. However, an essential difference exists by definition between distribution constant or partition ratio and partition constant. The term partition should be, but is not invariably, applied to the distribution of a single definite chemical species between the two phases.

Related Terms
- distribution constant: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/D01813
- extraction: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/E02301
- partition constant: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/P04438
- partition ratio: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/P04440

Source
- PAC, 1993, 65, 2373. 'Nomenclature for liquid-liquid distribution (solvent extraction) (IUPAC Recommendations 1993)' on page 2378 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199365112373)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/P04435/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/P04435/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/P04435/xml

Citation: Citation: 'partition' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.P04435
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Accessed: 2026-06-28T14:04:15+00:00