Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Notes on
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
Physical Chemistry
B.Sc.III (SEM VI)
1
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 3
DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................................... 4
System .................................................................................................................................... 4
Equilibrium ........................................................................................................................ 4
True Equilibrium ................................................................................................................ 4
Metastable Equilibrium: ..................................................................................................... 4
PHASE RULE: .......................................................................................................................... 5
PHASE (P): ............................................................................................................................ 5
a) Gaseous phase (g): ......................................................................................................... 5
(b) Liquid Phase (l): ........................................................................................................... 5
(c) Solid Phase (s): ........................................................................................................ 6
COMPONENT (C): ............................................................................................................... 6
DEGREE OF FREEDOM (F) ................................................................................................ 7
One Component system ............................................................................................................. 8
Water system .......................................................................................................................... 8
Sulphur System: ....................................................................................................................... 11
TWO–COMPONENT SYSTEMS ........................................................................................... 15
The Silver–Lead System .......................................................................................................... 15
Ferric Chloride -water system .............................................................................................. 17
KI water system ................................................................................................................... 20
Three Component System ........................................................................................................ 21
Objective Questions ................................................................................................................. 25
• Elucidate one component system, two component systems two component alloy
system (or) multi component equilibria, Reduced phase rule (or) condensed
Dr. Megha U. Patil
system
2
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
INTRODUCTION
For a system at equilibrium the phase rule relates:
3
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
DEFINITIONS
System: An assemblage of materials that is isolated in some manner from rest of the
universe.
• isolated system: one that does not exchange matter or energy with its
surroundings.
• closed system: one that exchanges only energy with its surroundings.
• open system: one that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings.
Equilibrium: The lowest energy state of a system in which there is no tendency for a
spontaneous change.
True Equilibrium: In any system same state is obtained by approach from any
direction.
e.g. ice(s) ⇔ water(l)
At given pressure the temperature at which two phases are in equilibrium is the
same (at 1atm pressure and 0℃) irrespective of the fact that weather equilibrium is
obtained by partial melting of ice or partial freezing of water, system thus exist in true
equilibrium.
Metastable Equilibrium:
state of a equilibrium can be obtained by careful approach from one direction.
It is possible to obtain water at -4℃ by careful colling of water. It is not possible to
have water at -4℃ by melting of ice.
1) Irreversible Reactions:
Zn + H2SO4 −−−−−> ZnSO4 + H2↑
2) Reversible reactions:
Dr. Megha U. Patil
PHASE RULE:
If the equilibrium between any numbers of phases is
not ‘influenced by gravitational/electrical/ magnetic forces but is
influenced by pressure, temperature and concentration, then the number of degrees of
freedom (F) is related to the number of components (C) and the number of phases (P)
as:
F=C−P+2
Explanation of terms with examples
PHASE (P):
PHASE is defined as, ―any homogeneous physically distinct and mechanically
separable portions of a system which is separated from other parts of the system by
definite boundaries.
a) Gaseous phase (g):
All gases are completely miscible and have no boundaries between them.
Hence all gases constitute a single phase.
Eg: Air, a mixture of O2, H2, N2, CO2 and water vapor, etc., constitutes a single
phase.
(b) Liquid Phase (l):
The number of liquid phases depends on the number of liquids present and their
miscibility’s.
(i) If two liquids are immiscible, they will form two separate liquid phases. (e.g.)
Benzene – Water system.
Dr. Megha U. Patil
(ii) If two liquids are completely miscible, they will form only one liquid phase.
(e.g.) Alcohol - Water system.
5
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
COMPONENT (C):
Component is defined as, ―the minimum number of independent variable
constituents, by means of which the composition of each phase can be expressed in the
form of a chemical equation.
Examples:
(a) Consider a water system consisting of three phases.
Ice(s) Water(l) Vapour(g)
The chemical composition of all the three phases is H2O.
Hence the number of components is one.
(b) Sulphur exists in 4 phases namely rhombic, monoclinic, liquid and vapour, but the
Dr. Megha U. Patil
6
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
The system has 3 phases namely, solid CaCO3, solid CaO and gaseous CO2and 2
components, as the composition of each of the above phases can be expressed as
equations considering any two of the three components present. When CaCO3and CaO
are considered as components, the chemical equations are:
Phase Components
CaCO3 CaCO3 + 0CaO
CaO 0CaCO3 + CaO
CO2 CaCO3 − CaO
7
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
Draw and Explain neat labelled phase diagram for water system
Phases:
The water system consistes of three phases-
8
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
F=c−p+2=1−P+2=3−PF=c−p+2=1−P+2=3−P
ie the degree of freedom depends on the number of phase present at equilibrium
From above, It is clear that for any one component system, the maximum number of
degrees of freedom is two
Curve:
Metastable Curve:
A) Ice & Water F=1−2+2=1F=1−2+2=1 (univariant)
i)Curve OA−−−−−−−−Curve OA_: It is vaporization curve. The curve OA terminates
at A.Its critical point is 218atm. & temperature is 374∘c374∘c.It represents vapor
pressure of liquid at different temperatures.
Dr. Megha U. Patil
Two phases water & water vapors consists coexist in equilibrium along the curve
p=2,c=1.
9
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
The two phase's solid-ice & liquid-water coexist in equilibrium. The curve indicates
melting point of Ice decreases with increases in pressure. At one atm. Line meets the
curve at 0∘c0∘c. ....F=1 & system is monovariant.
Areas:
1. BOC Ice
2. COA Water F=1−1+2F=1−1+2 (bivariant)
3. AOB Vapor
The area AOC, AOB & BOC The curve or areas between the curves show the conditions
at temperature & pressure under which a single phase i.e, ice, water & water vapor is
capable of stable existence.
Hence each system has two degree of freedom i.e. system is bivariant or divariant.
Dr. Megha U. Patil
Point Point:
O Triple Point Ice, Water & Vapor F=1−3+2=0F=1−3+2=0 (invariant
TRIPLE POINT:All the three curve OA, OB & OC meet at pt O called as triple point,
where all the three phases solid, liquid & vapor are in simultaneously in equilibrium.
10
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
This is extension of curve OA i.e. vapors pressure curve. That is, water can be super
cooled by eliminating solid particles carefully which includes crystallization. The super
cooled water system is unstable i.e. metastable,
The metastable vapor pressure of super cooled water is higher than vapor pressure of
ice.
APPLICATIONS:
1. In one component system the equilibrium condition may be represented with the
help of diagram taking pressure & temperature as two areas. The diagram is
called as pressure-temperature diagram.
3. All areas represent bivariant system because to define the system completely, at
any point in the area, both temperature & pressure should be fixed.
Sulphur System:
It is a one-component, four-phase system. The four phases are :
(a) Two solid polymorphic forms :
(i) Rhombic Sulphur (SR)
11
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
the stable variety. At 95.6ºC each form can be gradually transformed to the other and
the two are in equilibrium. At 120ºC, SM melts.
Thus,
The phase diagram for the sulphur system is shown in Fig. The salient features of the
phase diagram are described below.
(i) The six curves AB, BC, CD, BE, CE, EG
(ii) The three Triple points B, C, E (iii) The four areas :
ABG marked ‘solid Rhombic’
BEC marked ‘solid Monoclinic’
GECD marked ‘liquid Sulphur’
ABCD marked ‘Sulphur vapour’
Let us now proceed to discuss the significance of these features :
(1) The curves AB, BC, CD, BE, CE, EG
These six curves divide the diagram into four areas.
Curve AB, the Vapour Pressure curve of SR. It shows the vapour pressure of solid
rhombic sulphur (SR) at different temperatures. Along this curve the two phases SR and
sulphur vapour (SV)
are in equilibrium. The system SR/SV has one degree of freedom,
F=C–P+2=1–2+2=1
i.e., it is monovariant.
12
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
Curve BC, the Vapour Pressure curve of SM. It shows variation of the vapour pressure
of monoclinic sulphur (SM) with temperature. SM and SV coexist in equilibrium along
this curve. The system SM/SV is monovariant.
Curve CD, the Vapour Pressure curve of SL. It depicts the variation of the vapour
pressure of liquid sulphur (SL) with temperature. SL and SV are in equilibrium along CD.
The two phase system SL/SV is monovariant. One atmosphere line meets this curve at a
temperature (444.6ºC) which is the boiling point of sulphur.
Curve BE, the Transition curve. It shows the effect of pressure on the transition
temperature for SR and SM. As two solid phases are in equilibrium along the curve, the
system SR/SM is monovariant.
Curve CE, the Fusion curve of SM. It represents the effect of pressure on the melting
point of SM. The two phases in equilibrium along this curve are SM and SL. The system
SM/SL is monovariant. Thus the curve CE slopes slightly away from the pressure axis.
The curve ends at E because SM ceases to exist beyond this point.
Curve EG, the Fusion curve for SR. Here the two phases in equilibrium are SR and SL.
The number of phases being two, the system SR/SL is monovariant.
(2) The Triple points B, C, E
Triple point B. This is the meeting point of the three curves AB, BC and BE. Three
phases, solid SR, solid SM and SV are in equilibrium at the point B. There being three
phases and one component, the system SR/SM/SL is nonvariant.
F=C–P+2=1–3+2=0
At B, SR is changed to SM and the process is reversible. Thus the temperature
corresponding to B is the transition temperature (95.6ºC).
Triple point C. The curves BC, CD, CE meet at this point. The three phases in
equilibrium are SM,
SL and SV. There being three phases and one component, the system SM/SL/SV is
Dr. Megha U. Patil
SL are in equilibrium and the system at the point E is nonvariant. This point gives the
conditions of existence of the system SR/SM/SL at 155ºC and 1290 atmospheres pressure.
(3) The Areas
The phase diagram of the sulphur system has four areas or regions. These are labelled
as rhombic sulphur, monoclinic sulphur, liquid sulphur and vapour. These represent
single phase systems which have two degrees of freedom,
F = C – P + 2 = 1 – 1 + 2 = 2 That
is, each of the systems SR, SM, SL, and SV are bivariant.
(4) Metastable Equilibria
The change of SR to SM takes place very slowly. If enough time for the change is not
allowed and SR is heated rapidly, it is possible to pass well above the transition point
without getting SM. In that case, there being three phases (SR, SL, SV) only and one
component, the phase diagram, like that of water system, will consist of three curves,
one triple point and three areas.
The dashed curve BF, the Vapour Pressure curve of metastable SR. This is a
continuation of the vapour pressure curve AB of stable SR. The metastable phases SR
and SV are in equilibrium along this curve. It is a monovariant system.
The dashed curve CF, the Vapour Pressure curve of supercooled SL. On
supercooling liquid sulphur, the dashed curve CF is obtained. It is, in fact, the back
prolongation of DC. The curve CF represents the metastable equilibrium between
supercooled SL and SV. Thus it may be designated as the vapour pressure curve of
supercooled SL. It meets the dashed curve BF at F.
The dashed curve FE, the Fusion curve of metastable SR. The two metastable phases
SR and SL are in equilibrium along this curve and the system is monovariant. This shows
that the melting point of metastable SR is increased with pressure. Beyond E, this curve
depicts the conditions for the stable equilibrium SR/SL as the metastable SR disappears.
The metastable Triple point F. At this point, three metastable phases SR, SL and SV
Dr. Megha U. Patil
are in equilibrium. The system is a metastable triple point with no degree of freedom.
The corresponding temperature is the melting point of metastable SR (114ºC).
14
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
TWO–COMPONENT SYSTEMS
When a single phase is present in a two-component system, the degree of freedom is
three, F = 2 – 1 + 2 = 3 This means that three variables must be specified in order to
describe the condition of the phase.
Thus in such a system, in addition to pressure and temperature the concentration of one
of the components has also to be given.
For graphic representation of these variables, three coordinate axes at right angles to
each other would be required.
Therefore the phase diagram obtained would be a solid model. For the sake of having
simple plane diagrams we generally consider only two variables, the third one being a
constant.
For example, for a solid/liquid equilibrium, the gas phase in usually absent and the
effect of pressure on the equilibrium is very small.
Thus when a two-component system consists of solid and liquid phases only, the effect
of pressure may be disregarded.
Then it is necessary to take into account the remaining variables viz., temperature and
concentration. Such a solid/liquid system with the gas phase absent is called a
condensed system.
The experimental measurements of temperature and concentration in condensed
systems are usually carried out under atmospheric pressure. Since the degree of freedom
in such a case is reduced by one, we may write the Reduced Phase rule as F' = C – P +
1 where F' gives the remaining degrees of freedom of the system.
The reduced phase rule is more convenient to apply to solid/liquid two-component
condensed system. Since the only variables for two-component solid/liquid systems are
temperature and composition, the phase diagrams for such systems consist of
Temperature-Concentration graphs (TC graphs).
Dr. Megha U. Patil
15
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
Ag/Pb is a condensed system with three phases. In such a case, pressure can have no
effect on the system. Therefore we need consider only the two remaining variables,
namely the temperature (T) and concentration (C). The complete TC diagram of the
system Ag/Pb is shown in Fig
The salient features of the diagram are : (a) Two curves, AC and BC (b) Eutectic point,
C (c) Three areas : (i) above ACB; (ii) below AC; (iii) below BC Curve AC; the
Freezing point curve of Ag. A represents the freezing point or melting point of solid
silver (961ºC) and the curve AC shows that the addition of lead lowers the melting point
along it. The phases in equilibrium along AC are solid silver and solution of silver and
lead. Applying the reduced phase rule equation F' = C – P + 1 = 2 – 2 + 1 = 1 Thus the
system Ag/solution is monovariant. Curve B; the Freezing point curve of Pb. B
represents the melting point of solid lead (327ºC) and the curve BC shows that the
melting point is lowered by addition of silver. The phases in equilibrium along BC are
solid lead and solution. The system is monovariant. The Eutectic point C. The curves
AC and BC intersect at C, which is called the eutectic point. Here three phases solid
Ag, solid Pb, and solution are in equilibrium. Applying the reduced phase rule equation
F' = C – P + 1 = 2 – 3 + 1 = 0 Thus the system Ag/Pb/solution at C is nonvariant. Both
Dr. Megha U. Patil
the variables, temperature (303ºC) and composition (97.5% Pb, 2.5% Ag) are fixed. If
you raise the temperature above the eutectic temperature, the solid phases Ag and Pb
disappear and if you cool below it, you will land in the solid Ag/Pb area where solution
phase is nonexistent. The Area above AOC. This region represents the single phase
16
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
system, the solution of molten Ag and Pb. Applying the reduced phase rule equation,
we have F' = C – P + 1 = 2 – 1 + 1 = 2 Thus the system solution Ag/Pb is bivariant. The
area below AC represents the phases Ag + solution, while that below BC the phases Pb
+ solution. The area below the temperature 303º, represents solid Ag + solid Pb. All
these areas
temperature (– 22.0ºC). Alternatively, we may start with a concentrated solution of the
salt represented by point X on the phase diagram. As we withdraw heat by adding ice,
we travel along the dashed line XY. At Y which lies on the solubility curve BO, the
solution becomes saturated with the salt. On further withdrawing heat, we go along with
the curve BO until the eutectic point is reached. Thus the same minimum temperature
can be attained with a freezing mixture, whether we add salt to ice or ice to salt solution.
The eutectic temperatures of some salt/ice systems are listed below.
17
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
18
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
19
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
KI water system
20
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
21
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
22
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
23
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
24
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
Objective Questions
25
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
26
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
27
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE
PHASE EQUILIBRIA
28
Notes provided by-Dr. Megha Patil, Assist. Prof. Department of chemistry, PDVP COLLEGE