The speed of sound and density measurements in water, methanol, and benzene solutions for the solutes PEG-400, PEG-1000, and PEG-4000 at T= 298.15 K(0.05 to0.5 mol.kg(-1)) arereported. The data obtained are used to calculate thermodynamic parameters such as adiabatic (isentropic) compressibility of solutions (beta(ad)) apparent molar volume (phi v) and apparent molar compressibility (phi(K)) for solute molecules in all the solvent media. The limiting partial molar volume (phi(V)) and limiting partial molar compressibility (phi(K)degrees) of solute molecules are used to estimate volume of transfer and compressibility of transfer for PEG molecules from methanol to aqueous and benzene to aqueous media. The high observed negative (phi(K)degrees) values in methanol are interpreted in terms of breakdown of one-dimensional H-bonded structure of methanolic molecules. The (phi(K)degrees) values observed in water although negative but of small magnitude as compared to salts in water. Attempt is made to estimate hydration number for these molecules in aqueous solutions by applying Shiio's method and it is observed that PEG-4000 is hydrated most. These results are discussed in terms of solute-solvent and hydrophobic interactions and effects due to conformational characteristic of high molecular weight glycol molecules. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.