Solubility of Benzene in Water.

F o r the determination of individual mass transfer coeff ic ients for the benzene-water system, the mutual solubility of the components is required. T h i s paper dea ls with the solubility of benzene in water. T h e interpretation by Seidell (23) of the then-available portion of the present (1, 3-5, 7-19, 21-23, 25, 26) data on the solubility of benzene in water indicated a relationship that continually increased with temperature in a manner similar t o h i s other interpretations on the solubility of hydrocarbons in water. T h e more recent data of Bohon and Claussen (4) were the first to indicate a minimurn in the solubility curve for benzene (and other aromatic compounds), although Hill (13) suspected one. Taken a s a whole, the avai lable data might have been considered discordant. As a precise analytical technique for the analysis of benzene in water was needed for mass transfer s tudies , it was decided t o demonstrate and prove the technique by a redetermination of the solubility relationship. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry was selected a s the analytical tool. Study and experience indicated that the analytical technique had to b e developed with great care to avoid errors due to excess ive volatility, such as found by Saylor, Stuckey, and Gross (22), to improper calibration, to temperature-induced hazes , and perhaps to wall adsorption effects.