Metastable Phase Equilibrium of the Quaternary System Na+, Rb+, Mg2+//Cl--H2O at 298.2 K

The component solubilities, densities and refractive indices of the quaternary system Na+, Rb+, Mg2+//Cl--H2O at 298.2 K were measured using an isothermal evaporation method. Based on the gathered data, a metastable phase diagram, a water content diagram, and a density/refractive index vs. composition diagram were constructed. The results show that this system is of a complex type with a double salt rubidium carnallite (RbCl center dot MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O) formed at 298.2 K. Double salt rubidium carnallite, whose component point locates in its own crystallization zone in the dry salt phase diagram, belongs to congruent double salt at 298.2 K. Accompanied by the double salt that was formed, there are two invariant points in the phase diagram that cosaturated with three salts and an equilibrated solution. The cosaturated salts for the two invariant points are MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O+RbCl center dot MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O+NaCl and NaCl+RbCl+RbCl center dot MgCl(2)6H(2)O, respectively. Both invariant points are commensurate invariant points in the evaporation process, and the two invariant points are evaporative dry points. The sizes of the crystalline regions of the salts are in the order of NaCl>RbCl>RbCl center dot MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O>MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O.