Determination of the Molecular Structure of a Binary Azeotrope

Heather Bailey

The molecular structure of the azeotrope formed by cyclohexane and methanol is being determined through the use of spectroscopic and theoretical methods. An azeotrope is a solution that essentially behaves like a pure substance and boils at one specific temperature. This research aims to provide a microscopic description of this observed macroscopic phenomenon. Related research is relatively limited with only four published studies at this time. Previously published studies focused solely on IR and NMR spectroscopy. This research expands the methods to include Raman spectroscopy and theoretical vibrational calculations using DFT in order to provide a more complete picture of what is occurring at the molecular level. This data was related to molecular structure by observing how peaks shifted in the IR and Raman spectra as a function of concentration and temperature.