Question

The following liquids are stored in a storage vessel at 1 atm and 25°C. The vessels are vented with air. Determine whether the equilibrium vapor above the liquid will be flammable. The liquids are:________.

a. Acetone
b. Benzene
c. Cyclohexane
d. Toluene Problem

Answer 1

The liquids are TOLUENE because the equilibrum vapor above it will be flammable ( D )

Step-by-step explanation:

Liquids stored at : 1 atm , 25⁰c and they are vented with air

Determining whether the equilibrum vapor above the liquid will be flammable

We can determine this by using Antoine equation to calculate saturation vapor pressure also apply Dalton's law to determine the volume % concentration of air and finally we compare answer to flammable limits to determine which liquid will be flammable

A) For acetone

using the Antoine equation to calculate saturation vapor pressure

`In(P^(out) ) = A - (B)/(C + T)`

values gotten appendix E ( chemical process safety (3rd edition) )

A = 16.6513

B = 2940.46

C = -35.93

T = 298 k input values into Antoine equation

therefore ;
`p^(out)` = 228.4 mg

calculate volume percentage using Dalton's law

= V% = (saturation vapor pressure / pressure ) *100

= (228.4 mmHg / 760 mmHg) * 100 = 30.1%

The liquid is not flammable because its UFL = 12.8%

B) For Benzene

using the Antoine equation to calculate saturation vapor pressure

`In(P^(out) ) = A - (B)/(C + T)`

values gotten appendix E ( chemical process safety (3rd edition) )

A= 15.9008

B = 2788.52

C = -52.36

T = 298 k input values into the above equation

`p^(out)` = 94.5 mmHg

calculate volume percentage using Dalton's law

V% = (saturation vapor pressure / pressure ) *100

= (94.5 / 760 ) * 100 = 12.4%

Benzene is not flammable under the given conditions because its UFL =7.1%

C) For cyclohexane

using the Antoine equation to calculate saturation vapor pressure

`In(P^(out) ) = A - (B)/(C + T)`

values gotten appendix E ( chemical process safety (3rd edition) )

A = 15.7527

B = 2766.63

c = -50.50

T = 298 k

solving the above equation using the given values

`p^(out)` = 96.9 mmHg

calculate volume percentage using Dalton's law

V% = (saturation vapor pressure / pressure ) *100

= ( 96.9 mmHg /760 mmHg) * 100 = 12.7%

cyclohexane not flammable under the given conditions because its UFL= 8%

D) For Toluene

using the Antoine equation to calculate saturation vapor pressure

`In(P^(out) ) = A - (B)/(C + T)`

values gotten from appendix E ( chemical process safety (3rd edition) )

A = 16.0137

B = 3096.52

C = -53.67

T = 298 k

solving the above equation using the given values

`p^(out)` = 28.2 mmHg

calculate volume percentage using Dalton's law

V% = (saturation vapor pressure / pressure ) *100

= (28.2 mmHg / 760 mmHg) * 100 = 3.7%

Toluene is flammable under the given conditions because its UFL= 7.1%