Ask A Scientist

Chemistry Archive

When H2O and Methanol Mix


(Created prior to 1993)

Question: Why is it that when methanol and water are mixed the volume of the 
solution decreases and the temperature of the solution increases, where as 
when acetonitrile and water are mixed the volume and the temperature both 
decrease?
------------------------------------------------
It has to do with positive and negative deviations to Raoult's 
Law relating vapor pressure and mole fraction.
Joe Schultz
=========================================================

Back to Chemistry	Ask A Scientist Index
NEWTON Homepage	Ask A Question

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators.
Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.