Experimental and theoretical thermodynamic properties of RS-(±)- and S-(+)-mandelic acids

The enthalpies of formation of RS-(±)- and S-(+)-mandelic acids were measured using high-precision combustion calorimetry. Vapor pressures of the acids were measured using the transpiration method. The enthalpies of sublimation of these compounds at 298.15 K were derived from vapor pressure temperature dependencies. Molar enthalpies of the solid state phase transitions were measured by the DSC. Thermodynamic data on mandelic acids available from the published sources were collected and combined with our experimental results. Thermochemical properties of studied compounds were evaluated and tested for internal and external consistency with different approaches. The methods of quantum chemistry and statistical physics were used to calculate thermodynamic functions of compounds in the ideal gas state in temperature range 298.15 K-1500 K.