Bryan Luu

Brian Plucinski
PJ Schaefer
Jacob Dockery
Jesse Gu
Liquid-Vapor Equilibria in Binary Systems
Abstract
For an ideal mixture, a continuous temperature-composition diagram can be
created from 0 to 1. However, for a real mixture, the azeotropic point presents a
dead end on the diagram preventing the complete distillation of one liquid. The
objective of this experiment was to determine the boiling points of two pure liquids
and their azeotropic point. This was accomplished by measuring boiling points
starting from the two ends opposite the azeotropic point and moving toward that
point using a binary liquid-vapor system. From the data, refractive indices were
measure to determine mole fractions, which were then used to calculate target
temperature points on a temperature-composition plot. The measured boiling
temperature of pure cyclohexane was 79.9 C, while that of pure ethanol was 77.75
C. The experimental azeotropic value was___. The percent errors, respectively,
were___.

Data/Results

Analysis/Claims

The first few drops of the liquid in the vapor collection site were impurities
which were to be removed. However, some impurities were collected in the
first fraction.
Because this not an ideal mixture, an azeotrope forms in which the vapor
composition is equal to the liquid composition.
For immiscible liquids, as the mixture moves away from purity relative to one
liquid or the other, Tb decreases. This causes a minimum azeotropic point.
When measuring the refractive indices, the sample slightly evaporates upon
insertion into the refractive prism; this slightly changed the composition.
Upon adding ethanol, joint lubricant may have mixed in with the ethanol.

Conclusions
Several target points on temperature-composition plot were determined using
data measured from using fractional distillation of varying concentrations of
cyclohexane and ethanol.
Acknowledgements
Notes

Calibration - pure cyclohexane was the first one

A1 = 4 mL cyclohexane, 5 mL ethanol
Bryan Luu
Brian Plucinski
PJ Schaefer
Jacob Dockery
Jesse Gu
A2 = 1 mL cyclohexane, 5 mL ethanol
B1 = 2mL cyclohexane, 6 mL ethanol
B2 = 2 mL cyclohexane, 5 mL ethanol