https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01814
The concentration of a component in or on the stationary phase divided by the concentration of the component in the mobile phase. Since in @C01075@ a component may be present in more than one form (e.g. associated and dissociated forms), the analytical condition used here refers to the total amount present without regard to the existence of various forms. These terms are also called the distribution coefficients. However, the present term conforms more closely to the general usage in science.