Instructor: Fozia Noreen| Physical Chemistry- II

University of Sialkot, Sialkot BS-Chemistry

(Batch-18)
Department of Chemistry

Name of Student: Samra Roll Number: 18104008-006

Applications of Phase rule

The phase rule is a general principle governing "PVT systems" in thermodynamic
equilibrium, whose states are completely described by the variables pressure (P), volume (V)
and temperature (T). If F is the number of degrees of freedom, C is the number of
components and P is the number of phases, then F=C-P+2.
It was derived by Josiah Willard Gibbs in his landmark paper titled “On the Equilibrium of
Heterogeneous Substances”, published in parts between 1875 and 1878.
Phase rule has following applications:
 It is convenient method of classifying equilibrium states in terms of phases,
components and degree of freedom.
 It helps us to predict the behavior of a system under different sets of variables.
 It indicates that different systems with same degree of freedom behave similarly.
 It helps in deciding whether under a given set of condition:
A) Various substances would exist together in equilibrium.
B) Some of the substances present would be interconverted.
C) Some of the substances present would be eliminated.
 It is applicable to both physical and chemical equilibria.
 It requires no information regarding molecular/micro-structure.
Limitations of phase rule:
 It can be applied to system in equilibrium only.
 It is applicable to single equilibrium system and provides no information regarding
any other possible equilibria in system.
 Under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, all the phases of the system
must be present.
 It considers only the number of phases, rather than their amounts.
 It conditions that all phases of the system must be present simultaneously, under the
same conditions of temperature and pressure.