A solution is made containing 20.8 g of phenol (C₆H₅OH) in 425 g of ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH). Calculate (a) the mole fraction of phenol,

Key Concepts

Mole Fraction

Mole fraction is a way of expressing the concentration of a component in a mixture. It is calculated by dividing the number of moles of the component by the total number of moles of all components in the solution. This dimensionless quantity provides insight into the relative amounts of substances in a mixture, which is particularly useful in solutions.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in a molecule. Knowing the molar mass is essential for converting between grams and moles, which is necessary for calculating mole fractions in a solution.

Solution Composition

Solution composition refers to the relative amounts of solute and solvent in a solution. In this case, phenol is the solute and ethanol is the solvent. Understanding the composition is crucial for calculations involving concentrations, such as mole fraction, as it helps determine how much of each component is present in the solution.