Explanation and Exploration of the Isothermal Titration Curve for the NaCl + Na2SO4 + H2O System at 298.15 K and 102.2 kPa

Abstract

Isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) is a common and powerful tool in thermodynamics and related fields, and the connection between the solution behavior and raw titration curve is complex, important, and worth studying, so we try to discuss this problem using a complex solid-solid-liquid diagram. Although there are many experimental methods for studying ternary phase diagrams, ITC has been proven to be a simple, universal method at normal temperature and pressure. This method can be extended to investigate phase diagrams of multisalt aqueous solutions and related systems. Here, the phase equilibrium of one common ternary system (NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + H₂O) was determined using the ITC method with the aid of X-ray diffraction measurements. This isothermal and isobaric titration method can be used not only to determine the boundaries of different phase regions by analyzing changes in the slope of the observed heat vs solvent concentration plot but also to provide additional accurate data regarding the solid dissolution enthalpy and the dilution enthalpy. The dissolution enthalpy of 1 mol NaCl (Na₂SO₄) solid dissolving in water to just form a saturated solution is measured at 1.92 kJ/mol (-15.60 kJ/mol), and the dissolution enthalpy of the mixed solids can be evaluated with these data. The dilution enthalpy is strongly dependent on the solute concentration (0.08-0.23 kJ/mol at the range of concentration studied), and for the same range concentration of a solute, the dilution enthalpy of Na₂SO₄ is positive and larger than that of NaCl. Therefore, the connection between the observed heat and the microscopic behavior and the separation between the dissolution and dilution data may result in the possibility to gain a clearer understanding about the solution behaviors.