2.3. Hydrophobicity vs Hydrophilicity

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does hydrophobic mean?

   Hint

   Think about the common properties of oils.

2. 2.

   Which component of the Koc equation represents the concentration of the chemical?

   Hint

   Generally, the chemical's mass over organic carbon mass.

3. 3.

   Which property indicates a substance's unwillingness to dissolve in water?

   • A) Hydrophilicity
   • B) Hydrophobicity
   • C) Both

   Hint

   Remember the term 'water-fearing'.

4. 4.

   True or False: KOW values indicate how a substance interacts with organic materials.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about what KOW actually compares.

5. 5.

   A chemist is studying a new substance that has a KOC value of 1000 L/kg and KOW of 500. Discuss the potential environmental implications of this compound with respect to its hydrophobicity.

   Hint

   Consider both water interactions and sedimentation behavior.

6. 6.

   In a pollution scenario, a researcher finds that a certain pesticide exhibits a log KOW of 3. Calculate the KOW value. Discuss the implications of this log value for environmental contamination.

   Hint

   Apply the exponential relationship in logarithmic scales to find the KOW value.