Critical behavior of binary mixture of {(1 − x) C6H5CN + x CH3(CH2)9CH3}: Measurements of coexistence curves, turbidity, and heat capacity

(Liquid + liquid) coexistence curve, turbidity, and isobaric heat capacity per unit volume for the critical solution of {benzonitrile + n-undecane} have been measured. The critical exponents β, ν, γ, and α have been deduced, which were found to be consistent with the theoretic predictions. Meanwhile, the experimental data have also been analyzed to obtain the system-dependent critical amplitudes B, ξ0, χ0, A±, and D corresponding to the difference of the general density variable of two coexisting phases Δρ, the correlation length ξ, the osmotic compressibility χ, the isobaric heat capacity per unit volume CpV−1, and the first term of correction-to-scaling for the isobaric heat capacity per unit volume, which were used to test some universal ratios. It was found that the coexistence curve may be well described by the crossover model proposed by Gutkowski et al. The critical-fluctuation induced contribution to the background heat capacity Bcr was obtained and used to analyze the asymmetric behavior of the diameter of the coexistence curve. The result indicated that the asymmetry of the coexistence curve can be well described by the complete scaling theory proposed by Anisimov et al., and the heat capacity does make a significant contribution to this asymmetric behavior.

► Coexistence curve, isobaric heat capacity and turbidity measurements have been reported.
► Asymmetry of the coexistence curves has been analyzed by the complete scaling theory.
► Heat capacity has been shown to be important in describing the asymmetric criticality.
► Universal amplitude ratios have been tested.