Solubility Measurements of Benzene and the Alkylbenzenes in Water by Making Use of Solute Vapor

Aqueous solubilities of benzene and of alkylbenzenes, toluene, ethylbenzene, propyl- and isopropylbenzene, (o-, m-, and p-) xylene, and (1,2,3-, 1,2,4-, and 1,3,5-) trimethylbenzene, have been measured. An apparatus is described which provides a convenient means of obtaining aqueous solutions saturated with solute vapor. The method involves introducing solute vapor, which is in equilibrium with a liquid solute, into water and circulating it in a closed system. This method has three principal advantages: (1) The solubility equilibrium can be attained within 3 min, (2) it can be determined whether the solubility obeys Henry’s law, and (3) based on Henry’s law, solutions of any desired concentrations of solute at a given temperature of water can be easily prepared.