Vapour pressures and thermodynamic stability of the three aminophenol isomers

Abstract

The Knudsen mass-loss effusion method was used to determine the sublimation vapour pressures, at different temperatures, of ortho and para aminophenols in the temperature intervals T = (321.1 to 343.3) K and T = (337.2 to 359.2) K, respectively. The vapour pressures of crystalline meta-aminophenol were measured using the referred to above technique, between (321.4 and 343.3) K, and a static method, based on capacitance diaphragm manometers, between (354.4 and 391.8) K. The latter technique was also used to measure the liquid vapour pressures of this isomer over the temperature range T = (370.0 to 423.3) K. The experimental results enabled the determination of the standard (po = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies, entropies and Gibbs energies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, of the three compounds, and of vaporization of the meta isomer. The standard enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase were calculated using quantum chemical calculations and also by combining literature results of enthalpies of formation in the crystalline phase with the sublimation enthalpies results determined in this work. Gas-phase absolute entropies and heat capacities of the three compounds studied were also calculated using theoretical methods. The standard Gibbs energies of formation in crystalline and gaseous phases were determined and used to evaluate the thermodynamic stability of the three isomers in standard conditions. DSC analysis enabled the determination of the temperature and molar enthalpies of fusion of the compounds studied.