Partial Molal Volumes of Hydrocarbons in Water Solution

Abstract

The partial molal volumes of benzene, methane, ethane and propane in water solution have been determined at temperatures ranging from 10—40°C. All the volumes measured were less than those of the same hydrocarbons in nonpolar solvents. This decrease in volume is explained in terms of the abnormally high internal pressure of water, which decreases the free volume available to the hydrocarbon molecules. The temperature dependence of the partial molal volumes of the aliphatic hydrocarbons differs sharply from that of benzene. It is suggested that this is caused by a difference in solution structure in the two cases.