Ideal and non-ideal solutions
Solutions · Chemistry
Study notes
Ethanol + water shows positive deviation. Explain at molecular level. Step 1: Pure water: strong H-bonds; pure ethanol: H-bonds. Step 2: Mixed: water–ethanol H-bonds are WEAKER than water–water (ethanol's bulky C₂H₅ disrupts the network). Step 3: Molecules escape more easily → vapour pressure HIGHER than Raoult predicts. Step 4: Extreme case: minimum-boiling azeotrope at 95.6% ethanol — distils unchanged, so absolute alcohol needs chemical drying, not distillation.
Related topics
- Types of solutions and concentration terms
- Vapour pressure of solutions: Raoult's law
- Azeotropes
- Colligative properties: relative lowering of vapour pressure, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point, osmotic pressure
- van't Hoff factor and abnormal molar mass
- Solubility of gases in liquids: Henry's law