What is the solvent ?
What is the solvent ?
(OP)
I was lately confronted with the issue of finding the solubility of water in pentane. A MSDS of normal pentane quoted data for water solubility at 20 deg C.
The question now is what is the solvent ? Does the statement mean "water in pentane" or "pentane in water" ? What is the norm or the custom in cases like this ?





RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
Water in pentane infers there is more pentane than water.
RE: What is the solvent ?
Either way, if it's on an MSDS sheet, chances are good that they put the same field on every sheet, which means that "water solubility" means solubility in water (since table salt, sugar, and pentane would probably all have "water solubility" on the form).
RE: What is the solvent ?
It is important to distinguish between three closely related terms solute, solvent, and solution.
Solute – The substance that dissolves to form a solution
Solvent – The substance in which a solute dissolves
Solution – A mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent
RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
... and according to Section 9 of http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/p0737.htm
Pentane is "insoluble in water"
Making the best use of this Forum. FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. FAQ559-520
RE: What is the solvent ?
Solubility of Pentane in water = 39 mg/kg
Solubility of Water in Pentane = 120 mg/kg.
The first of those above is usually the one quoted and is far more readily available, and I suspect the one that was intended. I agree that the phrase in the MSDS is ambiguous (and, incidentally, MSDS's are often an inaccurate source for physical property data).
I disagree with IvyMike's comment that they are one and the same thing - as demonstrated by the data above.
RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
Two stars, one for each post and both of them elegant answers.
RE: What is the solvent ?
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: What is the solvent ?
Corypad is right, apparently in their gaseous state -as vapors- these two would become a one-phase solution.
RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
Good Luck
johnwm
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RE: What is the solvent ?
RE: What is the solvent ?
Ciao.