Mass Transfer - Engineering

Q1:

Relative volatility does not change appreciably with the change in

A temperature

B vapour pressure of either component

C total pressure

D none of these

ANS:A - temperature

Relative volatility does not change appreciably with the change in total pressure. Relative volatility is a measure of the differences in vapor pressures between the components of a mixture. It is defined as the ratio of the vapor pressure of one component to the vapor pressure of another component in the mixture, both at the same temperature. Mathematically, it can be expressed as: Relative Volatility=𝑃vapor, component 1𝑃vapor, component 2Relative Volatility=Pvapor, component 2​Pvapor, component 1​​ Because relative volatility is defined as the ratio of vapor pressures at the same temperature, changes in temperature will affect the vapor pressures of both components equally, thereby maintaining their relative volatility. Therefore, relative volatility is independent of temperature changes. Similarly, relative volatility is also independent of changes in the vapor pressure of either component individually. Since relative volatility is a comparison between the vapor pressures of the two components, changes in the vapor pressure of one component will affect both the numerator and the denominator of the relative volatility ratio equally, resulting in no net change in relative volatility. However, total pressure can affect the vapor pressures of both components in a mixture. But relative volatility remains unchanged because it is a measure of the ratio of vapor pressures rather than their absolute values. Therefore, relative volatility does not change appreciably with changes in total pressure.