The partition coefficient between n-Octanol and water is known as the n-octanol-water partition coefficient, or K. It is also frequently referred to by the symbol P, especially in the English literature. It is also known as n-octanol-water partition ratio.
K, being a type of partition coefficient, serves as a measure of the relationship between lipophilicity (fat solubility) and hydrophilicity (water solubility) of a substance. The value is greater than one if a substance is more soluble in fat-like solvents such as n-octanol, and less than one if it is more soluble in water.