An aqueous mixture composed of nitric acid () and water by mass behaves industrially as a constant boiling mixture. Which underlying thermodynamic deviation from Raoult's law does this specific mixtur

Question

An aqueous mixture composed of $68\%$ nitric acid ($HNO_3$) and $32\%$ water by mass behaves industrially as a constant boiling mixture. Which underlying thermodynamic deviation from Raoult's law does this specific mixture exhibit to cause this phenomenon?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. Nitric acid and water form a strong non-ideal solution with a large negative deviation from Raoult's law (, ). This negative deviation depresses the total vapour pressure to a minimum. A minimum in vapour pressure corresponds directly to a maximum in the boiling point, forming a maximum boiling azeotrope.

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