Ideal & Non-Ideal Solutions | Chemistry Class 12 - NEET PDF Download

Raoult’s Law states that the mole fraction of the solute component is directly proportional to its partial pressure.
On the basis of Raoult’s Law, liquid-liquid solutions are classified into two types of solutions, they are:
•  Ideal Solutions
•  Non-ideal Solutions

What is an Ideal Solution?

An ideal solution is a mixture in which the molecules of different species are distinguishable, however, unlike the ideal gas, the molecules in ideal solution exert forces on one another. When those forces are the same for all molecules independent of species then a solution is said to be ideal.

Characteristics of Ideal Solution

• The solutions which obey Raoult’s Law at every range of concentration and at all temperatures are called Ideal Solutions. 
• We can obtain ideal solutions by mixing two ideal components that are, a solute and a solvent having similar molecular size and structure.
  Example: consider two liquids A and B, and mix them. The formed solution will experience several intermolecular forces of attractions inside it, which will be:
  • A – A intermolecular forces of attraction
  • B – B intermolecular forces of attraction
  • A – B intermolecular forces of attraction

• The solution is said to be an ideal solution, only when the intermolecular forces of attraction between A – A, B – B and A – B are nearly equal.

• They follow Raoult’s Law, which means partial pressure of components A and B in a solution will be P_A = P_A⁰ x_A and P_B = P_B⁰ x_B  where P_A⁰ and P_B⁰ are respective vapour pressure in pure form and x_A and x_B are respective mole fractions of components A and B.
• The enthalpy of mixing of two components should be zero, that is, Δ_mix H = 0. This signifies that no heat is released or absorbed during mixing of two pure components to form ideal solution.
• The volume of mixing of two components should be zero that is, Δ_mix V = 0. This means that the total volume of solution is equal to the sum of the volume of solute and solution. Adding further, it also signifies that there is no occurrence of contraction or expansion of volume while mixing of two components.
• The solute-solute interaction and solvent-solvent interaction is nearly equal to solute-solvent interaction

Note: Perfectly ideal solutions are rare in nature, only some solutions show some ideal behaviour.

Examples of Ideal Solutions

• n-hexane and n-heptane
• Bromoethane and Chloroethane
• Benzene and Toluene
• CCl₄ and SiCl₄
• Chlorobenzene and Bromobenzene
• Ethyl Bromide and Ethyl Iodide
• n-Butyl Chloride and n-Butyl Bromide

What is a Non-Ideal Solution?

The solutions which don’t obey Raoult’s law at every range of concentration and at all temperatures are called Non-Ideal Solutions. Non-ideal solutions deviate from ideal solutions and are also known as Non-Ideal Solutions.

Types of Non-Ideal Solutions

Characteristics of Non-Ideal Solution

• The solute-solute and solvent-solvent interaction is different from that of solute-solvent interaction
• The enthalpy of mixing that is, Δmix H ≠ 0, which means that heat might have released if the enthalpy of mixing is negative  (Δmix H < 0) or the heat might have observed if the enthalpy of mixing is positive (Δmix H > 0).
• The volume of mixing that is,  Δmix V ≠ 0, which depicts that there will be some expansion or contraction in dissolution of liquids

Types of Non-Ideal Solution

• Non-ideal solutions showing positive deviation from Raoult’s Law
• Non-ideal solutions showing negative deviation from Raoult’s Law

Positive Deviation from Raoult’s Law

Example: consider two components A and B to form non-ideal solutions.

Let the vapour pressure, pure vapour pressure and mole fraction of component A be P_A , P_A⁰ and x_A respectively and that of component B be P_B , P_B⁰ and x_B respectively.
These liquids will show positive deviation when Raoult’s Law when

• P_A > P_A⁰ x_A and P_B > P⁰_B x_B, as the total vapour pressure (P_A⁰ x_A + P⁰_B x_B) is greater than what it should be according to Raoult’s Law.
• The solute-solvent forces of attraction is weaker than solute-solute and solvent-solvent interaction that is, A – B < A – A or B – B
• The enthalpy of mixing is positive that is, Δ_mix H > 0 because the heat absorbed to form new molecular interaction is less than the heat released on breaking of original molecular interaction
• The volume of mixing is positive that is, Δ_mix V > 0 as the volume expands on dissolution of components A and B

Examples: Following are examples of solutions showing positive deviation from Raoult’s Law

• Acetone and Carbon disulphide
• Acetone and Benzene
• Carbon Tetrachloride and Toluene or Chloroform
• Methyl Alcohol and Water
• Acetone and Ethanol
• Ethanol and Water

Negative Deviation from Raoult's Law

• P_A < P_A⁰ x_A and P_B < P⁰_B x_B  as the total vapour pressure (P_A⁰ x_A + P⁰_B x_B) is less than what it should be with respect to Raoult’s Law
• The solute-solvent interaction is stronger than solute-solute and solvent-solvent interaction that is, A – B > A – A or B – B
• The enthalpy of mixing is negative that is, Δ_mix H < 0 because more heat is released when new molecular interactions are formed
• The volume of mixing is negative that is,  Δ_mix V < 0 as the volume decreases on dissolution of components A and B

Examples: Following are examples of solutions showing negative deviation from Raoult’s Law

• Chloroform and Benzene
• Chloroform and Diether
• Acetone and Aniline
• Nitric Acid ( HNO3) and water
• Acetic Acid and pyridine
• Hydrochloric Acid ( HCl) and water
   Image 5: Graph between vapour pressure and mole fraction

What are Azeotropes?

Azeotropes are defined as a mixture of two liquids which has a constant composition in the liquid and vapour phase at all temperatures.

• Azeotropes can’t be separated by fractional distillation, as the composition of the vapour phase remains the same after boiling.
• Because of uniform composition azeotropes are also known as Constant Boiling Mixtures.

Each azeotrope has a characteristic boiling point.
The boiling point of an azeotrope is either less than the boiling point temperatures of any of its constituents (a positive azeotrope), or greater than the boiling point of any of its constituents (a negative azeotrope).

Types of Azeotropes

• Maximum Boiling Azeotrope
• Minimum Boiling Azeotrope

Maximum Boiling Azeotrope is formed when we mix two non-ideal solutions at some specific composition, showing a large negative deviation from Raoult’s law.

Examples:

• Nitric Acid (HNO₃) (68%) and water (32%) form maximum boiling azeotrope at a boiling temperature of 393.5 K
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) (20.24%) and water form maximum boiling azeotrope at a boiling temperature of 373 K

Minimum Boiling Azeotrope is formed when we mix two non-ideal solutions at some specific composition, which shows a large positive deviation from Raoult’s Law.
Example: Ethanol ( 95.5%) and water (4.5%) form minimum boiling azeotrope at a boiling temperature of 351.5 K