In all parts, make sure to explain your answers: (a) What is the largest possibl

Question

In all parts, make sure to explain your answers:

(a) What is the largest possible number of coexisting phases you would expect to find for a mixture of water and glucose (C6H12O6)? Describe what these phases might be. (Assume that no chemical reactions can take place; the only two molecules present are H2O and glucose.)

(b) Suppose that you combine glucose and water together with some mole fractions at some T and P and that you find the system exhibits coexistence between two phases (a sugar water solution and a vapor phase) under these conditions. Is it within the realm of thermodynamic possibility that you can slightly adjust both T & P in some arbitrary manner and always find coexistence between these two phases? Is it necessarily the case that you will remain in a state of coexistence between these two phases for arbitrary small adjustments to T & P?

(c) What about if you slightly adjusted all three of T,P,Xsugar in an arbitrary manner from the coexistence point found in part b (Xsugar is the mole fraction of glucose in the system)? Do you still expect to find coexistence between the two phases?

Explanation / Answer

a) The largest possible no. of phases when you mix water with glucose = 1

Explanation: The glucose is completely miscible in water. Hence, you will no more see glucose after adding it into water. Hence, there exists only one phase.

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