Types of Azeotropic Mixture
Azeotropic mixtures are made up of one solute and one solvent. Both the solvent and the solute are in the liquid phase. Both the solute and the solvent have a fixed composition. The boiling point of azeotropic mixtures is fixed. There are two main types of Azeotropic Mixture that are,
- Positive Azeotropes
- Negative Azeotropes
Positive Azeotropes
Azeotropic mixtures with a lower boiling point than their constituents are known as Positive Azeotropes. They are also known as Maximum Boiling Azeotropes. Some examples of Positive Azeotropes are:
- Acetone-Methanol (8.4% acetone, 91.6% methanol)
- Chloroform-Ethanol (9.6% chloroform, 90.4% ethanol)
- Toluene-Cyclohexane (67.2% toluene, 32.8% cyclohexane)
Negative Azeotropes
Azeotropic mixtures with a higher boiling point than their constituents are known as Negative Azeotropes. They are also known as Minimum Boiling Azeotropes. Some examples of Negative Azeotropes include:
- Water-Ethanol (95.6% ethanol, 4.4% water)
- Acetic Acid-Water (64.4% acetic acid, 35.6% water)
- Sulfuric Acid-Water (98.3% sulfuric acid, 1.7% water)
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Azeotropes
Azeotropic mixture, where its constituents are completely miscible (capable of being mixed), is known as homogeneous azeotropic mixtures. Examples include:
- Toluene-Methanol (8.6% toluene, 91.4% methanol)
- Water-Ethanol (95.6% ethanol, 4.4% water)
While Azeotropic mixture, where its constituents are not completely miscible (capable of being mixed), is known as heterogeneous azeotropic mixtures. Examples include:
- Formic Acid-Water (approx. 90.4% formic acid in liquid, 74.4% formic acid in vapor)
- Acetic Acid-Water (approx. 99.4% acetic acid in liquid, 80.4% acetic acid in vapor)
Azeotropic Mixture
Azeotropic Mixture is a mixture of two or more liquids with a similar boiling point and a similar composition in their vapor phase. Unlike most mixtures, an azeotropic mixture has a constant boiling point and composition during the vaporization process. In this article, we will study the different concepts related to Azeotropic mixture in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Azeotropic Mixture?
- Examples of Azeotropic Mixture
- Types of Azeotropic Mixture
- Ideal Solution Vs Azeotropes
- Differentiate Between Positive and Negative Azeotropes
- Separation Techniques for Azeotropic Mixture
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