The nanoheterogeneous structure of aqueous solutions of n-propanol

The results of positron spectroscopy and molecular light scattering studies, the data on radiationchemical yields and optical absorption spectra of solvated electrons formed under the action of ionizing radiation, and the data on the concentration dependences of viscosity, adiabatic compressibility, the velocity of sound, and partial molar volume were used to determine the structure of water-n-propanol mixtures. The conclusion was drawn that the insertion of alcohol molecules into water network voids over the range of alcohol mole fractions 0 < x2 < 0.05 strengthened the structure of water. A further increase in the concentration of the alcohol caused the destruction of the aqueous component and solution homogenization. At 0.01 < x2 < 0.3, mixtures resembled an emulsion of alcohol “nanodrops” suspended in water. At 0.3 < x2 < 0.9, the system again became homogeneous. Lastly, when water was added to pure n-propanol (1 > x2 > 0.9), its molecules combined into nanodrops.