1. the property of a liquid mixture that boils at a constant temperature without changing its composition, or the mixture itself that exhibits this property
Usage: chemistry and chemical engineering term; also called an azeotropic mixture

Examples

• Ethanol and water form an azeotropy that boils at 78.1°C rather than at the boiling point of either pure liquid.
• The azeotropy of this solvent mixture makes it difficult to separate the components by simple distillation.
• Engineers must account for azeotropy when designing distillation columns for certain chemical separations.
• The presence of azeotropy in the system prevents complete separation of the two liquids.
• Understanding azeotropy is essential in industrial chemical processes and laboratory work.