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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3so207

Components A and B have normal boiling points of (A) and (B). They form a binary mixture showing large positive deviation from Raoult's law, with a minimum-boiling azeotrope of boiling point containing B by mole. A liquid mixture containing B by mole is subjected to fractional distillation with a very efficient column at constant pressure. Which outcome is expected?

  1. APure A distils over first and pure B is left in the flask
  2. BPure A distils over; the azeotrope is left in the flask
  3. CPure B distils over first; the azeotrope is left in the flask
  4. DAzeotrope (60% B) distils over first; pure A is left in the flask

Answer: D

A positive-deviation system has a boiling-point minimum, so the azeotrope is the lowest-boiling species and distils first. The azeotrope is richer in B () than the feed (), so B is used up first while A is in excess. Therefore the distillate is the azeotrope and the residue is pure A; the mixture cannot be separated into pure A and pure B by simple fractionation.
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