Ionization enthalpy of benzoic acid in water—dimethylsulfoxide mixtures

The ionization enthalpy of benzoic acid has been measured calorimetrically at 25°C in H₂ODMSO mixtures ranging from pure water to a maximum DMSO molar ratio X_DMSO = 0.80. With the increase of DMSO content, the ionization becomes more and more endothermic, and for X_DMSO = 0.8 the ionization enthalpy is about 6 kcal mol^?1 higher than in water. By also measuring the solution enthalpy of crystalline benzoic acid in the mixtures, it has been shown that the solvation of the undissociated molecule is the main cause for the increase of the dissociation enthalpy. A comparison has been made between the relative enthalpies of benzoic and hydroxide ions in H₂ODMSO mixtures.