Azeotropic

/ˌeɪziːəˈtrɑːpɪk/ adjective

Definition

Describing a liquid mixture of two or more substances that boils at a constant temperature, without changing composition.

Etymology

From Greek 'a-' (not) + 'zein' (to boil) + 'tropos' (turn), literally meaning 'not turning during boiling', the term was created by chemists to describe this specific behavior.

Kelly Says

Azeotropic mixtures are the reason that distilling alcohol only gets you so far—you can separate alcohol from water up to about 95% purity, but that last 5% is trapped in an azeotrope that boils together no matter how hard you try, which is why 190-proof alcohol is the practical limit.

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