Question

1. Explain how a eutectic mixture could be mistaken for a pure substance and comment on whether encountering eutectic mixture would be a common or uncommon encounter.

2. If you mix two compounds ( compound A and B) that have almost identical melting points, describe two ways in which the mixed melting point would be affected

Answer 1

1. A eutectic mixture is a combination of two compounds which would give a lower melting point as compared to either of the pure substances. The temperature is denoted as eutectic point. Presence of impurities would affect the eutectic point. The eutectic mixture will melt at the samerate as the pure components forming the mixture and give a very sharp melting point similar to pure compound and thus can be mistaken for as a pure compound.

2. When two compounds are mixed, the resulting mixture will have lower melting point than either of the pure components. Also can be termed as depression of melting point of A and B. Secondly, the melting point of the mixture will be broader than melting point range for A and B that is it will not be sharp range for melting point of mixture.

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