Limiting activity coefficients of nine nitroaromatic compounds and four nit
roalkanes in water were determined in the range of environmentally related
temperatures by measuring suitable phase equilibria. For liquid and solid n
itroaromatics (nitrobenzene, 2-nitrotoluene, 3-nitrotoluene, 4-nitrotoluene
, 2-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene, and
1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene) the aqueous solubilities were measured by a conve
ntional batch contacting method with UV spectrophotometric analysis, while
for nitroalkanes (nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, and 2-nitropro
pane) the air-water partitioning (Henry's law constant H-12 or air-water pa
rtition coefficient K-aw) was determined by the inert gas stripping method
employing gas chromatography. Whenever possible, our results were compared
to literature values. Calculation of H-12 or K-aw for nitroaromatics from t
he measured solubilities is hindered by the lack of reliable vapor pressure
data. On the basis of the temperature dependences of the solubilities meas
ured, the enthalpies of solution at infinite dilution for the nitroaromatic
s in water were evaluated.