1. a mixture of two or more liquids that boils at a constant temperature and maintains a constant composition of vapor and liquid throughout the distillation process
Usage: chemistry term; also called azeotropic mixture

Examples

• Ethanol and water form an azeotrope that boils at 78.1°C.
• The azeotrope cannot be separated into pure components by simple distillation.
• Scientists study azeotropes to understand liquid-vapor equilibrium.
• An azeotropic mixture behaves as if it were a single pure substance during boiling.
• The composition of an azeotrope varies depending on pressure and temperature conditions.