Problem 2.4.2

 

How many liters of pure methanol and pure water must be mixed to form four liters of antifreeze at 25 degrees Centigrade?  Partial molar volumes of methanol and water in a 30 mole percent methanol solution are given as:

 

Methanol (1): partial molar volume, 38.633 cubic centimeter per mol, molar volume 40.277 cubic centimeter per mole, mole fraction 0.3

Water (2): partial molar volume, 17.765 cubic centimeter per mol, molar volume 18.068 cubic centimeter per mole, mole fraction 0.7

 

Solution:

 

Partial Molar Properties:

 

Each of the derivatives in brackets is a partial derivative of the form [partial (nM) over partial ni] holding T, P, and nj constant.  Such derivatives are accorded special significance in solution thermodynamics, and are called the partial molar properties of component i in solution, designated by symbol M overbari.  Thus, by definition,

 

M overbari is equal to [partial (nM) over partial ni] holding T, P, and nj constant.

 

Where M represents any molar thermodynamic property of a solution in which i is a component.  The overbar on M overbari identifies it as a partial molar property.  The name implies that a mole of component i in a particular solution at specified temperature, pressure, and composition has associated with a set of properties (such as H overbari, S overbari, etc) that is partially responsible for the properties (H, S, etc) exhibited by the solution of which i is a component. 

 

The properties to which above equation is applicable are known to be extensive; that is, if a solution made up of n1 moles of component 1, n2 moles component 2, ni moles of component i, etc. has an initial total property nM, where n is equal to sum of ni, then increasing each ni by the factor alpha at constant and P produces a solution with a total property alpha (nM).

 

nM is equal to sum of (ni M overbari).

 

Division by n yields the alternative expression.

 

M is equal to sum of (xi M overbari).   

 

where xi is the mole fraction of component i in the solution. 

 

For a binary mixture, M overbar1 = M minus x2 dM over dx2

 

Since x2 is equal to 1 minus x1 and dx2 is equal to minus dx1, this becomes

 

M overbar1 is equal to M plus (1 minus x1)dM over dx1

 

Similarly M overbar2 is equal to M minus x1 dM over dx1

 

Figure shows a representative plot of M versus x1 for a binary system.  Values of the derivative dM over dx1 are given by the slopes of lines drawn tangent to the curve M versus x1. One such line drawn tangent at a particular value of x1 is shown in Figure.  Its intercepts of the figure at x1 equal to 1 and x1 equal to zero are labeled as I1 and I2 respectively. 

 

It is seen from the figure that two equivalent expressions can be written for the slop of this line:

 

dM over dx1 is equal to (M minus I2) over x1

and dM over dx1 is equal to (I1 minus I2) over (1 minus 0) or is equal to I1 minus I2.

 

Solving the first equation for I2 and the second for I1 (with elimination of I2) gives

 

I1 is equal to M plus (1 minus x1) dM over dx1 and

I2 is equal to M minus x1 dM over dx1

 

Comparison of these expressions with the definition of M over bar1 and M overbar2 shows that

 

I1 is equal to M overbar1

 

And I2 is equal to M overbar2.

 

Thus the tangent intercepts directly give the values of two partial properties.  These intercepts of course shift as the point of tagency moves along the curve, and the limiting values are indicated by the constructions shown in Figure.  The tangent drawn at x1 equal to zero (pure component 2) gives M overbar2 equal to M2, consistent with our earlier conclusion regarding the partial molar property of a pure material.

 

The opposite intercept gives M overbar1 equals to M overbarinfinity1, the partial property of component 1 when it is present at infinite dilution (x1 equals to zero).  Similar comments apply to the tangent drawn at x1 equal to 1 (pure component 1).  In this case, M overbar1 is equal to M1 and M overbar2 is equal to M overbarinfinity2, since it is component 2 that is present at infinite dilution (x1 is equal to 1, x2 is equal to zero). 

 

Total volume, VT is 4 liters.

Specific volume, V is equal to x1V overbar1 plus x2V overbar2.  Plugging the values, we get V equals to 24.025 cubic centimeters per mol.

Total number of volumes is equal to VT over V or 166.49 moles

 

Number of moles of methanol, n1, is equal to x1 N or 0.3 time 166.49 or 49.95 moles.

 

Number of moles of water, n2, is equal to 16.49 minus 49.95 or 116.54 moles.

 

Volume of methanol, V1T or n1 V1 or 49.95 time 40.277 or 2.03 liters

 

Volume of water, V2T or n2 V2 or 116.54 time 18.068 or 2.11 liters