Regarding the azeotrope phenomenon
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Is there a thermodynamic explanation for the azeotrope phenomenon? In other words, is there currently a unified and authoritative theory regarding the mechanism by which azeotropes form?
For example, the azeotrope phenomenon is explained from aspects such as molecular structure, hydrogen bonding, and polarity
Azeotropy seems to have no relation to hydrogen bonds, molecular structure, or polarity. An azeotrope is a mixture – with two-phase azeotropes being the most commonly studied – in which the components of the gas phase and the liquid phase are identical at the boiling point; under such conditions, simple distillation cannot separate the two phases. For example, water and alcohol can form an azeotrope, and the specific temperature and pressure values can be found in phase diagrams. It doesn’t seem to be related to hydrogen bonds or anything like that; could it be that I haven’t studied it in enough depth?
The azeotrope phenomenon is certainly related to the molecular structure of the components; any physical phenomenon results from the interactions between the electrons of the molecules or atoms that make up the substances. For multi-component systems, the strength of the interaction between adjacent molecules depends on the types of molecules surrounding them. When an azeotrope forms, specific system components (appropriate proportions of different molecules) exist such that their amounts in the vapor and liquid phases are equal according to phase equilibrium
The occurrence of the azeotrope phenomenon is definitely related to molecular structure; is there just a lack of a more systematic summary?
Physical chemistry, separation engineering, and other fields all provide explanations regarding azeotropes