The Yang–Yang anomaly in liquid–liquid criticality: Experimental evidence from adiabatic scanning calorimetry

Using adiabatic scanning calorimetry, we have found the first experimental evidence of the Yang–Yang anomaly in liquid–liquid criticality from high-resolution two-phase isobaric heat capacity measurements for the binary mixture 3-pentanol + nitromethane. The results suggest a rather strong effect. The critical amplitude of the partial molar heat capacity is higher for the component with larger molecular volume, in accordance with the predictions of complete scaling as obtained from the customary observed asymmetric behavior of the coexistence-curve diameter. This consolidates complete scaling as the true formulation of fluid–fluid criticality. The quantitative analysis indicates that molecular size is not the only microscopic factor at play in asymmetric liquid–liquid criticality.