Application of Solution Calorimetry to Determining the Fusion Enthalpy of an Arylaliphatic Compound at 298.15 K: n-Octadecanophenone

Evaluating the temperature dependence of the fusion enthalpy is no trivial task, as any compound melts at a unique temperature. At the same time, knowledge of the fusion enthalpies under some common conditions, particularly at the reference temperature of 298.15 K, would substantially facilitate the comparative analysis and development of the predictive schemes. In this work, we continue our investigations of the temperature dependence of the fusion enthalpy of organic non-electrolytes using solution calorimetry. As an object of study, n-octadecanophenone, an arylaliphatic compound was chosen. The solvent appropriate for evaluating the fusion enthalpy at 298.15 K from the solution enthalpy of crystal was selected: p-xylene. The heat capacity and fusion enthalpy at the melting temperature were measured by differential scanning calorimetry to derive the fusion enthalpy at 298.15 K from the Kirchhoff’s law of Thermochemistry. An agreement between the independently determined values was demonstrated. This particular result opens a perspective for further studies of the fusion thermochemistry of arylaliphatic compounds at 298.15 K by solution calorimetry.