Mixing Liquids—Mission Impossible? A Colorful Demonstration on Immiscible Systems

Eckelmann, Jens; Lüning, Ulrich

doi:10.1021/ed2008262

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Multiphase coexistence is well known in nonliving systems and can be demonstrated with simple mixtures of organic solvents (79). Depending on relative droplet surface tension, this can give rise to structured droplets (80); for example, droplets with a high surface tension will be engulfed by the lower surface tension droplet (Fig.…”

Section: Multiphase Immiscibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid phase condensation in cell physiology and disease

Shin

Brangwynne

2017

Science

3,323

3,200

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Phase transitions are ubiquitous in nonliving matter, and recent discoveries have shown that they also play a key role within living cells. Intracellular liquid-liquid phase separation is thought to drive the formation of condensed liquid-like droplets of protein, RNA, and other biomolecules, which form in the absence of a delimiting membrane. Recent studies have elucidated many aspects of the molecular interactions underlying the formation of these remarkable and ubiquitous droplets and the way in which such interactions dictate their material properties, composition, and phase behavior. Here, we review these exciting developments and highlight key remaining challenges, particularly the ability of liquid condensates to both facilitate and respond to biological function and how their metastability may underlie devastating protein aggregation diseases.

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Section: Multiphase Immiscibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid phase condensation in cell physiology and disease

Shin

Brangwynne

2017

Science

3,323

3,200

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“…In three dimensions, most liquids are miscible with either organic or aqueous solvents and it is rare to observe more than two phases in coexistence. While there are exceptions 89-91 , they include compounds that vary dramatically in molecular weight (e.g. for the case of polymers) or atomic composition (e.g.…”

Section: Some Things Remain Universalmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Continuing Mystery of Lipid Rafts

Levental¹,

Veatch

2016

Journal of Molecular Biology

248

251

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Since its initial formalization nearly twenty years ago, the concept of lipid rafts has generated a tremendous amount of attention and interest, and nearly as much controversy. The controversy is perhaps surprising because the notion itself is intuitive: compartmentalization in time and space is a ubiquitous theme at all scales of biology, and therefore the partitioning of cellular membranes into lateral subdivision should be expected. Nevertheless, the physicochemical principles responsible for compartmentalization and the molecular mechanisms by which they are functionalized remain nearly as mysterious today as they were two decades ago. Herein, we review recent literature on this topic with a specific focus on the major open questions in the field, including: (1) what are the best tools to assay raft behavior in living membranes; (2) what is the function of the complex lipidome of mammalian cells with respect to membrane organization; (3) what are the mechanisms that drive raft formation and determine their properties; (4) how can rafts be modulated; (5) how is membrane compartmentalization integrated into cellular signaling. Despite decades of intensive research, this compelling field remains full of fundamental questions.

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“…Two liquid systems that are hexaphasic at room temperature (with six liquid layers) have been reported before in this Journal. , Here, we provide instructions for creating a third variant of hexaphasic liquid system that is very colorful and exhibits long-term stability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional support was provided by the Watanabe family, who fund the author’s Endowed Chair in the Sciences. The author thanks Syed Raza of Nova Specialty Chemicals for providing samples of Novasolve dyes, Makayla McKibben for her attempts to reproduce the hexaphasic liquid system described in ref , and Chris Babayco for his preliminary tests of the isobutyric acid + water + dye system. The author also thanks the manuscript reviewers for their insightful feedback.…”

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confidence: 99%

Liquid–Liquid Demonstrations: Phase Equilibria and the Lever Rule

Williamson

2021

J. Chem. Educ.

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The lever rule applies to any two-component system existing in a state of two-phase equilibrium. Here, several classroom demonstrations are described to help students understand liquid–liquid coexistence and the lever rule using a set of isobutyric acid + water + dye samples ranging in composition from water + dye to isobutyric acid + dye. The critical temperature of the partially miscible isobutyric acid + water system is just above room temperature, so students can perceive the general shape of the coexistence curve by watching a progression of phase separations take place over time as the set of prewarmed single-phase samples are allowed to cool. Qualitative visualization of the lever rule is demonstrated by showing students the set of samples after equilibration at a temperature well below the critical temperature. An interactive Excel spreadsheet is provided to help students connect their observations of the samples with the phase diagram. Quantitative and intuitive interpretation of the lever rule can be achieved through height measurements of the biphasic sample layers, leading to immediate graphical determination of the compositions of the isothermal equilibrated phases in the classroom. The set of samples may also be used in an extended classroom or laboratory project to map out the coexistence curve, and advanced students can use the coexistence data to estimate the critical composition of the system, as well as the universal critical exponent β. Finally, preparation of a stable hexaphasic immiscible liquid mixture is described.

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Mixing Liquids—Mission Impossible? A Colorful Demonstration on Immiscible Systems

Cited by 12 publications

References 9 publications

Liquid phase condensation in cell physiology and disease

Liquid phase condensation in cell physiology and disease

The Continuing Mystery of Lipid Rafts

Liquid–Liquid Demonstrations: Phase Equilibria and the Lever Rule

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