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Various Confusing Issues on Applications of D + f = C + 2

Consider a pure liquid \bgroup\color{blue}$ A$\egroup in contact with the air. The degrees of freedom can be determined in several equilvalent ways.

A
Consider the system composed of two components, the pure liquid $ A$ and air and restrict that the total pressure is 1 atm.
$ (D + f = C + 2) \rightarrow (D+f = C + 1)$.
Therefore, $ D = 2-2 +1 = 1$.


B

Considering that the system consists of three components: $ A$, O$ _2$, N$ _2$ and has two additional restrictions: 1) $ \Sigma P =1$ $ {P_{\mbox{O}_2}}/{P_{\mbox{N}_2}}=$ constant, then $ (D + f = C + 2) \rightarrow (D+f = C + 0)$.
$ D=3-2+0=1$ as before.


C

Disregard the air: $ C=1$. $ f=2$ and therefore $ D=1$. The liquid has an equilibrium vapor pressure which is a function of temperature. One can pick either the vapor pressure or the temperature independently, but not both.




W. Craig Carter 2002-11-21