Some physicochemical properties of aqueous solutions of isomeric butanediols

Density, viscosity, electric permittivity and refractive indices for mixtures of water with four isomeric butanediols were measured over the whole composition range at 298.15K. From these data the excess molar volumes, apparent and partial molar volumes of butanediols and water, the excess electric permittivity and Kirkwood's correlation factor for investigated mixtures were calulated. Analysis of the results obtained showed that although the investigated butanediols exhibit their individual features in the mixtures with water, there is a substantial similarity in the behaviour of butane-1, 2-diol and butane-2,3-diol. The analogous similarity, but to a lower extent, is also observed in the case of the other pair of butanediols, i.e. butane-1,3-diol and butane-1,4-diol which have their apolar fragments shielded by the hydroxyl groups.