Hi, the question is:
In an equilibrium diagram for a binary mixture, what does it mean for distillation if the relative volatility is low?
a)Separation of the components is easy
b)No separation of the components can be done
c)There is no difference of ease in the separation of the components
d)Separation of the components is difficult
e) The components in the mixture are not at equilibrium
if the relative volatility is more than 1, the separation is easier and if equal to 1, then the separation process is impossible since both components have same vapor pressure.
I know the answer is either b) or d),but not sure since both seem to be acceptable and don't know which is more accurate. Need your help. Thanks.
The question is sort of vague. I would ask your professor in the morning as to the definition of "low". Personally I would say that it is just more difficult since it does not specify that the relative volatility is one, it is just low. That is just an opinion. Hope that helps guide your process.
If the "low" volatility in the question means it is CLOSE to 1 (not equal to 1), then the answer is letter 'D' or 'separation of components is difficult. If it said "exactly equal to 1", then it's 'B'. But since it doesn't indicate anything, I'll go with letter D.
Relative volatility basically indicates the differences in volatility of the two components, and is also called the 'separation factor'. If the relative volatility is close to 1, then that means their volatility values are close to one another, therefore in distillation process it is difficult to separate them in one stage only. You need a lot of stages to separate them efficiently. However, if the relative volatility is high ( >1000 for instance), then complete separation is almost possible in one stage.
Hope this helps~ `u`
The correct answer is b) No separation of the components can be done.
When the relative volatility is low, it means that the vapor pressure difference between the two components in the mixture is small. This makes it difficult to achieve significant separation of the components through distillation. Therefore, option b) is the more accurate answer in this case.
To determine the correct answer, let's understand the concept of relative volatility in an equilibrium diagram for a binary mixture.
In an equilibrium diagram, the relative volatility is a measure of the differences in the vapor pressures between the two components of the mixture. It is defined as the ratio of the vapor pressure of the more volatile component to the vapor pressure of the less volatile component.
If the relative volatility is low, it means that the vapor pressure difference between the two components is small. This indicates that the two components have similar tendencies to transition from the liquid phase to the vapor phase.
Now, considering the options:
a) Separation of the components is easy: This option implies that separation is possible. However, when the relative volatility is low, it suggests that the two components have similar vapor pressures, making the separation difficult. Therefore, this option is not correct.
b) No separation of the components can be done: This option suggests that separation is impossible. If the relative volatility is low, it indicates that the two components have similar vapor pressures, making it challenging to separate them. Therefore, this option is a valid answer.
c) There is no difference in the ease of separation of the components: This option implies that there is no difference in the separation regardless of the relative volatility. However, as mentioned before, a low relative volatility indicates that the two components have similar vapor pressures, making separation difficult. Therefore, this option is not accurate.
d) Separation of the components is difficult: This option suggests that, with low relative volatility, the separation is challenging. It aligns with the explanation provided earlier and is a valid answer choice.
e) The components in the mixture are not at equilibrium: This option does not directly relate to the relative volatility. The relative volatility only indicates the differences in the vapor pressures between the components, not their equilibrium state. Therefore, it is not a relevant answer.
Based on the analysis, the correct answer is d) Separation of the components is difficult when the relative volatility is low.