Molecular dynamics simulation studies of benzene, toluene, and p-xylene in a canonical ensemble

Abstract

We have presented the results of thermodynamic, structural and dynamic properties of liquid benzene, toluene, and p-xylene in canonical (NVT) ensemble at 293.15 K by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The molecular model adopted for these molecules is a combination of the rigid body treatment for the benzene ring and an atomistically detailed model for the methyl hydrogen atoms. The calculated pressures are too low in the NVT ensemble MD simulations. The various thermodynamic properties reflect that the intermolecular interactions become stronger as the number of methyl group attached into the benzene ring increases. The pronounced nearest neighbor peak in the center of mass g(r) of liquid benzene at 293.15 K, provides the interpretation that nearest neighbors tend to be perpendicular. Two self-diffusion coefficients of liquid benzene at 293.15 K calculated from MSD and VAC function are in excellent agreement with the experimental measures. The self-diffusion coefficients of liquid toluene also agree well with the experimental ones for toluene in benzene and for toluene in cyclohexane.