IPhO 1989 · Theory problem 1

Boiling of two immiscible liquids

Consider two liquids A and B insoluble in each other. The pressures \(p_i\) (\(i=\mathrm{A}\) or \(\mathrm{B}\)) of their saturated vapors obey, to a good approximation, the formula:

\[ \ln(p_i/p_o)=\frac{\alpha_i}{T}+\beta_i,\qquad i=\mathrm{A}\text{ or }\mathrm{B}, \]

where \(p_o\) denotes the normal atmospheric pressure, \(T\) – the absolute temperature of the vapor, and \(\alpha_i\) and \(\beta_i\) (\(i=\mathrm{A}\) or \(\mathrm{B}\)) – certain constants depending on the liquid. (The symbol \(\ln\) denotes the natural logarithm, i.e. logarithm with base \(e=2.7182818\ldots\))

The values of the ratio \(p_i/p_0\) for the liquids A and B at the temperature \(40^\circ\mathrm{C}\) and \(90^\circ\mathrm{C}\) are given in Tab. 1.1.

Table 1.1

\(t\ [^\circ\mathrm{C}]\) \(p_i/p_0\), \(i=\mathrm{A}\) \(p_i/p_0\), \(i=\mathrm{B}\)
40 0.284 0.07278
90 1.476 0.6918

The errors of these values are negligible.

A. Determine the boiling temperatures of the liquids A and B under the pressure \(p_0\).

B. The liquids A and B were poured into a vessel in which the layers shown in Fig. 1.1 were formed. The surface of the liquid B has been covered with a thin layer of a non-volatile liquid C, which is insoluble in the liquids A and B and vice versa, thereby preventing any free evaporation from the upper surface of the liquid B. The ratio of molecular masses of the liquids A and B (in the gaseous phase) is:

\[ \gamma=\mu_A/\mu_B=8. \]

Figure 1

Fig. 1.1

Figure 2

Fig. 1.2

The masses of the liquids A and B were initially the same, each equal to \(m=100\mathrm{g}\). The heights of the layers of the liquids in the vessel and the densities of the liquids are small enough to make the assumption that the pressure in any point in the vessel is practically equal to the normal atmospheric pressure \(p_0\).

The system of liquids in the vessel is slowly, but continuously and uniformly, heated. It was established that the temperature \(t\) of the liquids changed with time \(\tau\) as shown schematically in the Fig. 1.2.

Determine the temperatures \(t_1\) and \(t_2\) corresponding to the horizontal parts of the diagram and the masses of the liquids A and B at the time \(\tau_1\). The temperatures should be rounded to the nearest degree (in \(^\circ\mathrm{C}\)) and the masses of the liquids should be determined to one-tenth of gram.

REMARK: Assume that the vapors of the liquids, to a good approximation,

(1) obey the Dalton law stating that the pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the gases forming the mixture and

(2) can be treated as perfect gases up to the pressures corresponding to the saturated vapors.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • A. The normal boiling temperatures are \[ \boxed{t_A=76.8^\circ\mathrm{C},\qquad t_B=99.7^\circ\mathrm{C}} \] (approximately \(77^\circ\mathrm{C}\) and \(100^\circ\mathrm{C}\), respectively).

  • B. To the requested precision, \[ \boxed{t_1=100^\circ\mathrm{C},\qquad t_2=67^\circ\mathrm{C}}, \] \[ \boxed{m_A(\tau_1)=0.0\ \mathrm{g},\qquad m_B(\tau_1)=95.5\ \mathrm{g}}. \]

Solution

A. Normal boiling temperatures

For a pure liquid, boiling occurs when its saturated vapor pressure equals the external pressure. Thus, under pressure \(p_0\), \[ p_i(T_{b,i})=p_0 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad 0=\frac{\alpha_i}{T_{b,i}}+\beta_i, \] so \[ T_{b,i}=-\frac{\alpha_i}{\beta_i}. \]

To determine the constants, let \[ T_L=313.15\ \mathrm{K},\qquad T_H=363.15\ \mathrm{K}, \] and denote the corresponding tabulated pressure ratios by \(r_{i,L}\) and \(r_{i,H}\). Subtracting the two vapor-pressure equations gives \[ \alpha_i= \frac{\ln r_{i,H}-\ln r_{i,L}} {T_H^{-1}-T_L^{-1}}, \qquad \beta_i=\ln r_{i,L}-\frac{\alpha_i}{T_L}. \]

Using the supplied data:

Liquid \(\alpha_i\) (\(\mathrm{K}\)) \(\beta_i\)
A \(-3748.4907\) \(10.711491\)
B \(-5121.6396\) \(13.734914\)

Therefore, \[ T_{b,A}=349.9504\ \mathrm{K}, \qquad T_{b,B}=372.8920\ \mathrm{K}. \] Converting to Celsius, \[ \boxed{t_A=76.8^\circ\mathrm{C},\qquad t_B=99.7^\circ\mathrm{C}}. \]

B. The two plateaus and the remaining masses

The slow heating permits a quasistatic treatment using equilibrium vapor pressures. As specified, hydrostatic pressure differences are negligible. The non-volatile layer C prevents free surface evaporation.

At the A–B interface, a vapor bubble in equilibrium with both liquids contains saturated vapor of each. Because the liquids are immiscible, each contributes its own saturated vapor pressure at the common temperature. Dalton’s law gives \[ p_{\mathrm{bubble}}=p_A(T)+p_B(T). \]

Consequently, boiling begins at the lower plateau temperature \(T_2\), determined by \[ p_A(T_2)+p_B(T_2)=p_0. \] Using the fitted vapor-pressure laws, \[ \exp\!\left(\frac{\alpha_A}{T_2}+\beta_A\right) + \exp\!\left(\frac{\alpha_B}{T_2}+\beta_B\right) =1. \]

Numerical solution gives \[ T_2=340.1208\ \mathrm{K}, \qquad t_2=66.9708^\circ\mathrm{C}. \] Thus, \[ \boxed{t_2=67^\circ\mathrm{C}}. \]

At this temperature, \[ \frac{p_A}{p_0}=0.7337662, \qquad \frac{p_B}{p_0}=0.2662338. \]

While both liquids remain, their saturated vapor pressures depend only on temperature, so boiling continues at this fixed temperature. The supplied heat provides the latent heat of vaporization.

To determine which liquid is exhausted first, consider a volume \(V\) of the escaping vapor mixture. The ideal-gas law for each component gives \[ p_A V=n_A RT_2,\qquad p_B V=n_B RT_2, \] and hence \[ \frac{n_A}{n_B}=\frac{p_A}{p_B}. \] The molecular-mass ratio is also the molar-mass ratio. Therefore, the positive masses lost by evaporation satisfy \[ \frac{\mathrm{d}m_A^{\mathrm{evap}}} {\mathrm{d}m_B^{\mathrm{evap}}} = \frac{\mu_Ap_A}{\mu_Bp_B} = \gamma\frac{p_A}{p_B}. \] Numerically, \[ \gamma\frac{p_A}{p_B} = 8\frac{0.7337662}{0.2662338} = 22.0488. \]

This ratio remains constant throughout the lower plateau. Since the initial masses are equal, A is exhausted first. When its entire \(100\ \mathrm{g}\) has evaporated, the mass of B lost is \[ \Delta m_B = \frac{100}{22.0488}\ \mathrm{g} = 4.5354\ \mathrm{g}. \] The remaining liquid masses are therefore \[ m_A=0,\qquad m_B=100-4.5354=95.4646\ \mathrm{g}. \]

Once A is exhausted, B alone has insufficient vapor pressure to boil at \(T_2\), since \[ p_B(T_2)=0.2662338\,p_0<p_0. \] Boiling stops and the temperature rises until B reaches its normal boiling temperature. The upper plateau is therefore \[ t_1=t_B=99.7420^\circ\mathrm{C}, \] which rounds to \[ \boxed{t_1=100^\circ\mathrm{C}}. \]

The marked time \(\tau_1\) lies on the rising segment between the two plateaus. At this stage A has disappeared, B has not yet resumed boiling, and layer C prevents free surface evaporation. Thus the liquid masses remain those at the end of the lower plateau: \[ \boxed{m_A(\tau_1)=0.0\ \mathrm{g},\qquad m_B(\tau_1)=95.5\ \mathrm{g}}. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.