Structure and thermodynamics of hydrocarbon liquids: Computer simulation based on rism theory

A system of Ornstein-Zernike integral equations is solved numerically to determine the heats of vaporization ΔH_V of liquid ethane, propane, and n-butane. It is shown that the calculations (the deformations of valence bonds and bond angles in the liquid-phase molecules are ignored) give rather accurate values of ΔH_V, which are in agreement with the corresponding experimental data. On the other hand, it is established that if there are intramolecular rotational degrees of freedom, ΔH_V depends on the angle of internal rotation ϕ. The function ΔH_V(ϕ) is minimum for trans-conformations (ϕ=0) and maximum for cis-conformations (ϕ=180°). Hence, intermolecular interactions stabilize compact (convolute) conformations. The energy of this effect is of the order of 1 kJ/mole. Tver State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 808–813, September–October, 1995. Translated by I. Izvekova