Miscibility gap
Property of chemical mixtures
A miscibility gap is a region in a phase diagram for a mixture of components where the mixture exists as two or more phases, any region of composition of mixtures where the constituents are not completely miscible.
The IUPAC Gold Book defines miscibility gap as "Area within the coexistence curve of an isobaric phase diagram (temperature vs composition) or an isothermal phase diagram (pressure vs composition)."
A miscibility gap between isostructural phases may be described as the solvus, a term also used to describe the boundary on a phase diagram between a miscibility gap and other phases.
Thermodynamically, miscibility gaps indicate a maximum (e.g. of Gibbs energy) in the composition range.
The miscibility gap condition is a candidate for thermal storage.
01Named miscibility gaps
A number of miscibility gaps in phase systems are named, including
- The huttenlocher (found in bytownite, anorthite composition An55-95), boggild (in labradorite, An39-48 and An53-63) and peristerite (in oligoclase, ~An5-15) miscibility gaps in the plagioclase feldspars.
- A Nishwawa horn, term for a miscibility gap existing when phases with different magnetic properties co-exist in the phase diagram.
- Miscibility gaps in liquid states can cause spinodal decomposition, commonly referred to as oiling out, as commonly occurs in oil/water mixtures.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Miscibility gap”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
