Tutorial Topic 3 Questions 1

3A.7 Tutorial 3

1. Use Raoult’s law to evaluate vapour-liquid equilibrium data for the

water-phenol system at 1 bar. Compare your calculated data with the
x  y diagram provided (below) and comment on the assumptions
implied in the method of calculation.

B
log 10 ( Psat )  A  P sat (mmHg) T (C)
T C

Component A B C
Water 8.10765 1750.226 235.000
Phenol 7.13301 1516.790 174.954

(Answer: see summary answers)

2. Benzene and toluene form an ideal liquid solution. Calculate the

compositions of the vapour and liquid in equilibrium at 760 mmHg total
pressure and at temperatures of 80oC, 92oC, 100oC and 110.4oC.

Vapour Pressure Data (mmHg)

Temperature (oC) Benzene Toluene
80.0 760 300
92.0 1078 432
100.0 1344 559
110.4 1748 760

(Answer: see summary answers)

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Tutorial Topic 3 Questions 2

3. Using the Van Laar equations, calculate the x  y equilibrium

compositions at atmospheric pressure for a mixture of chloroform and
acetone. Chloroform and acetone form an azeotrope containing 0.666
mole fraction of chloroform at 64.5oC.

Vapour Pressure Data (mmHg)

Temperature (oC) Acetone Chloroform
45.0 510.5 439.0
50.0 612.6 526.0
55.0 --- 625.2
56.3 760.0 ---
60.0 860.6 739.2
60.9 --- 760.0
70.0 1190.0 1019.0
80.0 1611.0 1403.0

(Answer: see summary answers)

4. Experimental investigation shows that at 100.7oC and 760 mmHg, a

liquid of mole fractions 0.568 n-heptane and 0.432 toluene exists in
equilibrium with a vapour of mole fractions 0.637 n-heptane and 0.363
toluene.
Use Margule’s model to evaluate the composition of vapour in
equilibrium with a liquid containing mole fractions of 0.185 n-heptane
and 0.815 toluene.
Vapour pressure data at 100.7oC:
n-heptane 780 mmHg
toluene 432 mmHg

(Answer: y1 = 0.4347 and y2 = 0.5653)

5. Di-chloroethane and methanol form an azeotrope at 760 mmHg and

41.9oC containing a di-chloroethane mole fraction of 0.769. A
laboratory experiment carried out at 760 mmHg gave the following
equilibrium point:

x DCE  0.294 and y DCE  0.653

(Cont…..)

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

Tutorial Topic 3 Questions 3

Use the azeotrope data and the Van Laar equations to predict the
composition of the vapour in equilibrium with the liquid above (0.294
mole fraction). Compare the predicted and experimental data and
comment on their accuracy.

B
log 10 ( Psat )  A 
T C

In which P sat (mmHg) and T (C)

Component A B C
Di-chloroethane 6.96513 1141.984 231.93
Methanol 7.87863 1473.110 230.00

(Answer: y1 = 0.711, Comment….)

6. Using a laboratory still operating at 760 mmHg, experimental vapour-

liquid equilibrium data for the propanol-water system has been found
for two different liquid compositions as shown below:

x (Propanol) y (Propanol) Temperature (oC)

0.36 0.42 87.7
0.52 0.44 87.9

Using the Van Laar equations evaluate the activity coefficients of both
components and hence the vapour composition in equilibrium with a
liquid with a propanol mole fraction of 0.60 at 760 mmHg.

B
log 10 ( Psat )  A 
T C

In which P sat (mmHg) and T (C).

Component A B C
Water (1) 7.96681 1668.21 228.0
Propanol (2) 7.99733 1569.70 209.5

(Answer:  1  2.001,  2  1.148 , y1 = 0.518 and y2 = 0.482)

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3