[curiouscat]

Are there any 3-phase (all liquid) systems around? I was curious.

Aqueous + Organic (i.e. 2 phases) seem the most common type, of course.

Is there any fundamental limitation that might forbid this?

Phase law (P+F =C +2) doesn't per se seem to prohibit, say, a 3 component 3 phase system (All liquids). Correct?

How about 4 immiscible phases, all liq? Do such beasts exist?

[Archer]

Hexane, water and a relatively polar oil such as an alkoxybenzyl alcohol or 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione will give three phases.

Then again there is immiscible and then there is partial solubility, which is what the above is. Heat the system up or change the ratio and you will get 2 phases.

[curiouscat]

Hexane, water and a relatively polar oil such as an alkoxybenzyl alcohol or 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione will give three phases.

Then again there is immiscible and then there is partial solubility, which is what the above is. Heat the system up or change the ratio and you will get 2 phases.

Ok, to be precise I meant immiscible at some proportion. So partial solubility is OK so long as 3 seperate stable phases will exist. Each phase need not be pure.

I wasn't aware of Hexane Water polar alcohol. Interesting.

Wonder if 4 phase or 5 phase systems can be similarly synthesized. 

[mamid]

How about a 4-phase liq system, like water/organic solvent/perfluoroalkane/ionic liquid?

[Corribus]

What about these?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layered_drink

[Borek]

What about these?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layered_drink

Technically these are not separate phases. Layers are separated by their density, mix the drink and they will be lost. Left for long enough the drink will become homogeneous just because of diffusion (not that I ever had a chance to observe such a drink for long enough ).

Something like kinetic stability vs thermodynamic stability.

[408]

hexane-polar oil-water-Hg

4 phases, but for the life of me I cannot think of a 5 one that would exist.

[curiouscat]

hexane-polar oil-water-Hg

4 phases, but for the life of me I cannot think of a 5 one that would exist.

I'm wildly speculating but what if you added something exotic, say gallium to your 4-phase concoction? 5 phases?

[curiouscat]

What about these?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layered_drink

Yep, just as @Borek said.

They need to be stable on stirring.

[408]

I would be worried that it would be miscible in mercury...but I do not feel like spending tonight searching phase diagrams, so it would be a guess.

[curiouscat]

I would be worried that it would be miscible in mercury...but I do not feel like spending tonight searching phase diagrams, so it would be a guess.

The most amazing thing with academics is that the most obscure point you might wonder about is almost always already studied by some bored researcher somewhere.

Case in point, Hg-Ga phase diagram. Apparently they do form two phases. Complete solubility only above 200°C. So perhaps we have our 5-phase system, if someone is brave / bored enough to try mixing 'em all:

hexane + polar oil + water + Hg + Ga

Darn, makes me wish I still had access to  a well stocked department Stockroom. Might be fun to photograph.

[408]

That is a pretty liberal definition of multiple phases, looks like assuming a 50/50 mix, only ~10% of the bulk mass would be the Ga (can I read a phase diagram like that?  I am a bit rusty on my solid state chem) and try telling them apart by appearance....

I wonder if a ternary metal mix would be the sexiest result?  Say Au/Hg/Ga.  I know Hg is used to extract Au from stuff, and Au should be more soluble in Hg than Ga, so the result may be the "salting out" of the Ga from the Au/Hg layer much like some solvents can be salted out of aqueous solution with salts.  And with any luck, with enough gold the Hg/Ag layer will be goldy colored compared to the silver of Ga making for a nice visual. I'll let you check phase diagrams to see if there is any truth in this idea or if I am just talking out my ass.   

[curiouscat]

That is a pretty liberal definition of multiple phases, looks like assuming a 50/50 mix, only ~10% of the bulk mass would be the Ga (can I read a phase diagram like that?  I am a bit rusty on my solid state chem) and try telling them apart by appearance....

Hmm....I'm no expert but I think you are misreading the phase diagram.

A 50/50 bulk mix, looks to me, would (roughly) split into two almost equal halves each of which would have ~5% (at 40°C)  of the other phase dissolved in.

I interpret the wide L1+L2 region as a broad miscibility gap. i.e pretty close to complete immiscibility. Or ideal multiple phases.

I could be wrong though. I'm not a 100% sure. Perhaps, someone else will chime in.

[408]

going to look up some stuff tomorrow, but I am being swayed to your side after a little prelim research.  I (think) I stand corrected.

I still stand by the dissolving gold in it for appearance sake 

[curiouscat]

I still stand by the dissolving gold in it for appearance sake 

Yep. Agree. Undoped Hg and Ga look boringly similar, sadly.