Question 14.14.2: A waste liquor consists of a 0.5 molal solution of CaCl2 in ...

A waste liquor consists of a 0.5 molal solution of CaCl_2   in water. Calculate the minimum work, per mole of CaCl_2 ,  required to separate the liquor into anhydrous CaCl_2   and pure water at atmospheric temperature and pressure. The mean ionic activity coefficient of 0.5 molal CaCl_2   is 0.448.

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The minimum work is that required when the separation is conducted reversibly; that is, w=-\Delta G  for the process. Further, 0.5 molal CaCl_2 comprises 0.5 moles of CaCl_2   and 1000 g of  H_2O  or 0.5 moles of CaCl_2   and 1000/18 = 55.55 moles of water. Thus, 1 mole of CaCl_2   exists in 111.1 moles of water, and the mole fraction of water is 111.1/112.1 = 0.991.

1. Move 1 mole of dissolved CaCl_2   from a concentration of 0.5 molar to the 1 molal standard state.

\Delta G_{(1)}=RT\ln \frac{a_{CaCl_{2(m=1)}}}{a_{CaCl_{2(m=0.5)}}}

 

=-RT\ln 4(\gamma_{\pm} m_{CaCl_2})^3

 

=-8.3144\times 298\ln \left[4\times (0.448\times 0.5)^3\right]=7686   J

2. Transfer the 1 mole of Ca^{2+}  ions from the 1 molal standard state to solid Ca at 298 K. From Table 14.1, \varepsilon ^{\circ ,Ca}=-2.87   volts. Therefore, for the reaction

Ca^{2+}_{(m)}+2e^{-}=Ca_{(s)}

 

\Delta G_{(2)}=-(2\times 96,487\times- 2.87)=553,835 J

3. Transfer the 2 moles of Cl^{2-}   ions from the 1 molal standard state to Cl_2  gas at 1 atm pressure at 298 K. From Table 14.1, \varepsilon ^{\circ ,Cl}=1.3595   volts. Therefore, for the reaction

2Cl^{-}_{(m)} =Cl_{2(g)}+2e^{-}

 

\Delta G_{(3)}=-(2\times 96,487\times- 1.3595)=262,348  J

4. Transfer 111.1 moles of H_2O  from a mole fraction of 0.991 to a mole fraction of 1.0. Assuming Raoultian behavior,

\Delta G_{(4)}=-n_{H_2O}RT\ln X_{H_2O}

 

=-111.1\times 8.3144\times 298\ln 0.991=2486  J

5. Allow the 1 mole of solid Ca to react with the mole of gaseous Cl_2  to form 1 mole of solid CaCl_2  at 298 K. For the reaction

Ca_{(s)}+Cl_{2(g)}=CaCl_{2(s)}

 

\Delta G_{(5)}=\Delta G^{\circ }_{298K}=-752,100  J

Thus, the change in the Gibbs free energy for the separation process is

\Delta G_{(1)}+\Delta G_{(2)}+\Delta G_{(3)}+\Delta G_{(4)}+\Delta G_{(5)}=74,255  J

which is the minimum amount of work required per mole of CaCl_2  separated.

14.1

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