Thermodynamic properties of the KCl+H2O system

The thermodynamic properties of the KCl+H2O system were examined in order to provide: (1) an improved equation for the osmotic coefficient as a function of molality and temperature for purposes of isopiestic measurements, (2) a determination of the thermodynamic properties of the standard-state solution process, and (3) a test of the accuracy of the enthalpy of solution values for KCl(cr), a calorimetric standard. New equations that describe the thermodynamic properties of the KCl+H2O system were obtained from previously published measurements for this system. The measured values included in the fitted equations spanned the range of temperature from approximately 260 to 420 K for KCl(aq) and 1.5 K to 1033.7 K for KCl(cr). New equations and/or values for the following properties are given in the present work: (1) thermal properties of KCl(cr) from 0 K to the melting point, 1045 K, (2) the change in chemical potential for both KCI and H2O in KCl(aq) as a function of temperature, and molality, valid from 260 to 420 K, and (3) standard-state properties for the aqueous solution process. The effect of heat treatment on the determination of enthalpy of solution values was also examined. This examination indicated that the MST recommendation of heating Standard Reference Material 1655, potassium chloride, at 800 K for a minimum of 4 h prior to its use in calorimeter calibration, should probably not be followed. The heat treatment recommended by the NIST certificate appears, at this point, to have a higher probability of corrupting the sample than improving the accuracy of the measurement. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics and American Chemical Society. [S0047-2689(99)00101-4].