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Lever Rule Solution

The document explains the application of Raoult's Law to determine liquid and vapor compositions in a two-phase system, with given pure vapor pressures and total pressure. It also introduces the lever rule, which helps to calculate the relative amounts of liquid and vapor phases in equilibrium. Key formulas for phase fractions and geometric interpretations of the lever rule are provided to illustrate the relationships between the compositions.

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3 views2 pages

Lever Rule Solution

The document explains the application of Raoult's Law to determine liquid and vapor compositions in a two-phase system, with given pure vapor pressures and total pressure. It also introduces the lever rule, which helps to calculate the relative amounts of liquid and vapor phases in equilibrium. Key formulas for phase fractions and geometric interpretations of the lever rule are provided to illustrate the relationships between the compositions.

Uploaded by

saurav goswami
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Raoult’s Law Diagram Problem – Solution and

Lever Rule Explanation

Given
Pure vapour pressures:
P°A = 300 mmHg
P°B = 600 mmHg

Total pressure of system:


PT = 480 mmHg

Step 1: Liquid Composition (xA)


For an ideal solution (Raoult’s law):

PT = xAP°A + xBP°B
xB = 1 − xA

Substitute values:
480 = 300xA + (1 − xA)600

480 = 300xA + 600 − 600xA


480 = 600 − 300xA

xA = 0.4

Step 2: Vapour Composition (yA)


yA = (xAP°A) / PT

yA = (0.4 × 300) / 480


yA = 120 / 480 = 0.25

Lever Rule – Concept


The lever rule determines the relative amounts of phases present in equilibrium inside a two■phase
region of a phase diagram.

If a mixture separates into liquid and vapour phases, the overall composition lies between the
compositions of the two phases.

xA = liquid composition
yA = vapour composition
zA = overall composition

Material Balance Derivation


Let:
nL = moles of liquid
nV = moles of vapour
n = total moles

Total balance:
n = nL + nV

Component A balance:
nzA = nLxA + nVyA

Define phase fractions:


fL = nL / n
fV = nV / n

zA = fLxA + fVyA
fL + fV = 1

Vapour Fraction
fV = (zA − xA) / (yA − xA)

Liquid Fraction
fL = (yA − zA) / (yA − xA)

Geometric Meaning (Lever Rule)


Phase amount is proportional to the opposite segment of the tie line.

Amount of vapour ∝ distance from overall composition to liquid point


Amount of liquid ∝ distance from overall composition to vapour point

Important Insight
If the overall composition equals the vapour composition (zA = yA), the system lies on the dew line
and the mixture is entirely vapour.

Similarly, if zA = xA, the system is entirely liquid.

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