Several methods of plotting two-dimensional diagrams for ternary system have been proposed

but the most popular one is the equilateral triangular method proposed by Stokes and
Roozeboom . This method uses the concentrations of the three components and will be plotted
in an equilateral triangle as shown in Figure 1. The apex of the ternary plot diagram represents
the pure components of the mixture. Each line on the sides of the triangle represents the mole
percent or the mole fraction of each component [1] .

Figure 1. Ternary Plot Diagram

The ternary plot diagram ensures that the mole fraction of each component will be equal to one
[2] . One of the common use of the Ternary plot diagram is when plotting for the partially
miscible liquids. There are some liquids that are completely immiscible to each other and the
separation between the two can be easily done. However, by adding a third component, that is
both miscible with the two immiscible liquids, there is an apparent increase in the solubility of
the mixture [1]. In addition, adding sufficient amount of the third component can lead to a
completely homogenous system [3] .

Systems with three liquid components can exhibit different partial miscibility, it can form one pair
and two pairs of partially miscible liquids.

The one partially miscible pair was shown in Figure 2. The one pair partially miscible system
shows that there are two component which are partially miscible with each other (component C
and B) and by adding the third component which is miscible with A and B which is the
component C, it increases the solubility of the components B and C.
Figure 2. One pair of partially miscible liquids Figure 3. Two pair of partially miscible liquids

Figure 3 shows two pair of partially miscible liquids. In this case, the component AC and AB are
partially soluble to each other and A is completely soluble in C. Therefore there are two regions
on the graph wherein there will be one-phase. In addition, the area enclosed within FGDE
represents the two-phase region. There is no plait point for this type of ternary liquid system.

For this experiment, the one pair partially miscible liquid system is the main focus. In Figure 4, it
can be seen that the two-phase system and the one phase system was separated by a phase
envelop. Inside the phase envelope is the region where the two-phase system exists and
outside is where the one-phase system can be found; complete miscibility can be observed
outside the phase envelope. By having the correct proportions of the components of the
mixture, it can be easily deduced from the ternary plot on how many phases the liquid mixture
will exists [2]. The tie line as seen in the figure below, relates the concentration of component A
with the concentration of component B when it exist in two phases. The tie lines are determined
experimentally.

Figure 4 . Phase Diagram of partially miscible liquids

The plait point, P, is also known as the critical solution point. As the system approaches the
composition of a plait point, the vapor and liquid phases becomes identical. At this point,
equilibrium phases become coincident and separation cannot be made [3].

The objectives of this experiment is to determine the solubility curve by preparing mixtures of
Toluene, Isopropanol and Water and to determine the plait point for the liquid system.

References
[1] 13.3 Phase Diagrams: Ternary Systems. (2017). Chemistry LibreTexts. Retrieved
24 October 2017, from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry
_Textbook_Maps/DeVoe%27s_%22Thermodynamics_and_Chemistry%22/13%3
A_The_Phase_Rule_and_Phase_Diagrams/13.3_Phase_Diagrams%3A_Ternary_
Systems
[2] Atkins, P., & De Paula, J. (2010). Physical chemistry (10th ed., pp. 217-218). New
York: W.H. Freeman.
[3] Ternary phase diagrams -. (2017). Petrowiki.org. Retrieved 24 October 2017,
from http://petrowiki.org/Ternary_phase_diagrams#Plait_point