Question

Which of the following combinations would be likely to form a minimum-boiling azeotrope? 1\. Water and chlorobenzene 2\. Water and nitric acid 3\. Water and hydrogen peroxide 4\. Water and acetone

Short answer

The correct combination that would likely to form a minimum-boiling azeotrope is Water and Acetone (option 4), due to the significant difference in polarity between the two components.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Azeotropes

An azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids with a constant boiling point and composition throughout the distillation process. Azeotropes can be classified as either minimum-boiling or maximum-boiling. A minimum-boiling azeotrope is formed when the azeotropic mixture has a lower boiling point than either of its components. In general, minimum-boiling azeotropes are formed by substances with significant differences in their polarity.

Examine Each Combination

Now let us examine each combination of liquids to determine which one is likely to form a minimum-boiling azeotrope. 1. Water and Chlorobenzene: Water is a polar molecule while chlorobenzene is a moderately polar molecule. The difference in polarity is not significant enough to form a minimum-boiling azeotrope. 2. Water and Nitric Acid: Water and nitric acid are both polar molecules and have a strong interaction with each other due to hydrogen bonding. This strong interaction would likely result in a maximum-boiling azeotrope rather than a minimum-boiling azeotrope. 3. Water and Hydrogen Peroxide: Water and hydrogen peroxide are both polar molecules with strong hydrogen bonding. Just like water and nitric acid, this combination will likely form a maximum-boiling azeotrope. 4. Water and Acetone: Water is a polar molecule, and acetone is a polar solvent with a significant difference in polarity compared to water. This combination meets the criteria for a minimum-boiling azeotrope due to the difference in the polarity of the components.

Identify the Correct Combination

Based on our analysis of each combination, it is most likely that the combination of Water and Acetone will form a minimum-boiling azeotrope. So, the correct answer is option 4: Water and Acetone.