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Can azeotrope be described or predicted by Raoult’s model? If not, why?
No. Raoults law model cannot be used for predicting or describing an azeotrope. This is because Raoults law is valid only for ideal solutions.
Ideal solutions:
Azeotropes are non ideal solutions and are constant boiling mixtures. The azeotropes are formed by solutions showing large positive and negative deviation from ideality ie from Raoults law. They are usually formed between highly dissimilar compounds which produce a lot of heat and volume changes of mixing.
Azeotropes are classified into two types based on their deviation from Raoults law:
Positive deviation or minimumboiling azeotropes: The boiling point diagram hows a minimum as in the figure below:
Negative deviation or maximum boiling azeotropes: Shows a maximum in the boiling point diagram.