Phase Rule 1
Phase Rule 1
Phase Rule 1
▪ Introduction
▪ Gibbs Phase Rule
• Phase
• Component
• Degree of Freedom
▪ Phase Diagram
▪ One Component System
• Water System
• Sulphur System
▪ Two Component system
• Pb-Ag,
• Zn-Mg
• Fe-C
▪ Metal and Alloys
▪ Heat Treatment of steel
Introduction
▪ Phase rule is an important tool to explain the state of
equilibrium in a heterogeneous system.
▪ The Phase rule was first presented by Willard Gibbs in
1874.
▪ It is very useful to understand the effect of intensive
variables such as temperature , pressure or concentration
on equilibrium between different phases as well as
chemical constituents.
▪ It predicts the behaviour of system with changes in the
variables that govern the system in equilibrium.
Gibbs Phase Rule
▪ If a heterogeneous system in equilibrium is influenced
by temperature, pressure & concentration , then the
number of degrees of freedom plus number of phases is
greater than the number of components by two.
Mathematically , F + P = C + 2
or F = C – P + 2
where , F = number of degrees of freedom
C = number of components
P = number of phases
2 = additional variables of temperature &
pressure
Advantages of Phase Rule :
(i) It provides a simple method of classifying equilibrium
states of systems.
(ii) The phase rule confirms that the different systems
having the same number of degrees of freedom behave in
same manner.
(iii) It is applicable only to macroscopic systems and not
concerned with molecular structure.
(iv) It predicts under given conditions whether a number of
substances taken together would remain in equilibrium as
such or would involve interconversion or elimination of
some of them.
(v) It takes no account of nature of the reactants or
products in phase reactions.
Limitations of Phase Rule:
(i) The phase rule is applicable to heterogeneous systems
in equilibrium, so, it is therefore of no use for such
systems which are slow in attaining the equilibrium
state.
(ii) It is applicable to a single equilibrium state, so it never
gives information about the other possible equilibrium
in the system.
(iii) In Gibbs phase rule, various variables are
temperature, pressure and composition. It does not
take in account the electric and magnetic influences.
For consideration of such variables, the factor 2 of the
Phase rule has to be adjusted accordingly.
Related Terms
PHASE , P :
Homogeneous , Physically distinct & mechanically
separable part of the system , which is separated from
other parts by definite boundaries.
Examples
(i) A gaseous mixture constitutes- a single phase since
gases are completely miscible.
(ii) Two or more liquids which are miscible with one
another constitute -a single phase. e.g., water and alcohol
constitute one phase system.
(iii) Two immiscible liquids forms- two phase system e.g.,
water and oil as there is bounding surfaces separating the
two liquids.
(iv) A system consisting of a liquid in equilibrium with
its vapour - two phase system
(v) Solution of NaCl in water – one phase system
but Saturated Solution of NaCl in water – two phase
system.
(vi) Each solid forms a separate phase.
when a crystal has one solid substance—one phase
system
but a crystal has two or more solid substance—two
or more phases.
COMPONENTS , C :
The minimum number of independent chemical
constituents by means of which the composition of
each phase can be expressed.
Examples
(i) Water system: the composition of each of the three
phases present can be expressed as H2O.Hence it is one
component system
ice(s) ⇌ water(l) ⇌ vapor(g) C=1