What is "distribution law"

n. (chemistry) the total energy in an assembly of molecules is not distributed equally but is distributed around an average value according to a statistical distribution

Distribution law or the Nernst's distribution law gives a generalisation which governs the distribution of a solute between two non miscible solvents.This law was first given by Nernst who studied the distribution of several solutes between different appropriate pairs of solvents.

The statement of the law is

" If a solute X distributes itself between two non miscible solvents A & B at constant temperature & X is in the same molecular condition in both the solvents, then: concentration of X in A / Concentration of X in B = K"

Where K is called the distribution coefficient or the partition coefficient.

If C denotes the concentration of solute in solvent A & C, the concentration of X in B; Nernst's distribution law can be expressed as C/C = K