[hs764]

I have a homework question that gives the melting point of capsaicin as 63 C and phenol at 41 C, with the eutectic point around 50% of each compound. It then asks which compound is the major component at a melting point of 46 C. My understanding is that because it is still above the melting point of pure phenol, capsaicin has to be the major component, but I just want to verify that I have it right.

[orthoformate]

I have a homework question that gives the melting point of capsaicin as 63 C and phenol at 41 C, with the eutectic point around 50% of each compound. It then asks which compound is the major component at a melting point of 46 C. My understanding is that because it is still above the melting point of pure phenol, capsaicin has to be the major component, but I just want to verify that I have it right.

does the question provide a phase diagram?

[hs764]

No, it doesn't.

[orthoformate]

No, it doesn't.

I think your reasoning is correct, capsaicin must be the major component at all temperatures above 41 °C

[mjc123]

Strictly, the composition must be richer in capsaicin than the eutectic composition. As you are told the eutectic composition is about 50:50 (is that mole%, vol% or weight %? They will be different, as the MWs are very different.) in this case that means capsaicin is the major component (>50%), but in general one would expect the eutectic to be closer in composition to the lower-melting component, so it is possible that a mixture may have >50% of this component and still have a higher m.p.