Engineering English
Relative Volatility
Chemical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Relative volatility is a thermodynamic measure of the ease with which two components can be separated by distillation. It is defined as the ratio of the vapor pressures of the two components at a given temperature.
Example in context
“The relative volatility of the mixture was low, requiring many equilibrium stages for separation.”
“Karışımın bağıl uçuculuğu düşüktü, bu da ayırma için çok sayıda denge aşaması gerektiriyordu.”
Where engineers use it
Relative volatility is used in distillation calculations to determine the number of theoretical stages required. Process engineers rely on this parameter for column design and to evaluate feasibility of separation.
Practice: can you use “Relative Volatility” at work?
You are given a binary mixture with a low relative volatility. The client asks for a distillation column design achieving 99% purity. What design challenges would you highlight?
Show a model answer
“Calculate the relative volatility from vapor pressure data for the key components.”
“Relative Volatility” in 21 languages
| English | Relative Volatility |
|---|---|
| Turkish | bağıl uçuculuk |
| French | volatilité relative |
| German | relative Flüchtigkeit |
| Spanish | volatilidad relativa |
| Chinese | 相对挥发度 |
| Arabic | التطاير النسبي |
| Portuguese | volatilidade relativa |
| Russian | относительная летучесть |
| Japanese | 相対揮発度 |
| Italian | volatilità relativa |
| Vietnamese | độ bay hơi tương đối |
| Hindi | सापेक्ष वाष्पशीलता |
| Thai | ความผันผวนสัมพัทธ์ |
| Indonesian | volatilitas relatif |
| Korean | 상대 휘발도 |
| Bengali | আপেক্ষিক উদ্বায়িতা |
| Dutch | relatieve vluchtigheid |
| Swedish | relativ flyktighet |
| Finnish | suhteellinen haihtuvuus |
| Ukrainian | відносна летючість |
Frequently asked questions
What does Relative Volatility mean in engineering?
Relative volatility is a thermodynamic measure of the ease with which two components can be separated by distillation. It is defined as the ratio of the vapor pressures of the two components at a given temperature. In Chemical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Relative Volatility?
Relative Volatility is pronounced /rɛlətɪv vɒlətɪlɪti/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Relative Volatility used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The relative volatility of the mixture was low, requiring many equilibrium stages for separation.”
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