Skip to main content
Ch.14 - Solutions
Chapter 14, Problem 74

A solution contains a mixture of pentane and hexane at room temperature. The solution has a vapor pressure of 258 torr. Pure pentane and hexane have vapor pressures of 425 torr and 151 torr, respectively, at room temperature. What is the mole fraction composition of the mixture? (Assume ideal behavior.)

Verified Solution

Video duration:
6m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Raoult's Law

Raoult's Law states that the vapor pressure of a solvent in a solution is directly proportional to the mole fraction of the solvent in the solution. For a mixture of volatile components, the total vapor pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of each component, which can be calculated using their respective mole fractions and pure component vapor pressures.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:40
Raoult's Law and Vapor Pressure

Mole Fraction

Mole fraction is a way of expressing the concentration of a component in a mixture. It is defined as the ratio of the number of moles of a specific component to the total number of moles of all components in the mixture. This concept is crucial for applying Raoult's Law to determine the contributions of each component to the overall vapor pressure.
Recommended video:
Guided course
00:36
Mole Fraction Formula

Ideal Gas Behavior

Ideal gas behavior refers to the assumption that gases behave according to the ideal gas law, where interactions between gas molecules are negligible, and the volume of the gas molecules themselves is also negligible. In the context of solutions, assuming ideal behavior allows for the simplification of calculations involving vapor pressures and mole fractions, making it easier to predict the properties of the mixture.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:15
Ideal Gas Law Formula
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Which solution has the highest vapor pressure? a. 20.0 g of glucose (C6H12O6) in 100.0 mL of water b. 20.0 g of sucrose (C12H22O11) in 100.0 mL of water c. 10.0 g of potassium acetate KC2H3O2 in 100.0 mL of water

2052
views
1
comments
Textbook Question

Calculate the vapor pressure of a solution containing 24.5 g of glycerin (C3H8O3) in 135 mL of water at 30.0 °C. The vapor pressure of pure water at this temperature is 31.8 torr. Assume that glycerin is not volatile and dissolves molecularly (i.e., it is not ionic), and use a density of 1.00 g/mL for the water.

3149
views
Textbook Question

A solution contains 50.0 g of heptane (C7H16) and 50.0 g of octane (C8H18) at 25 °C. The vapor pressures of pure heptane and pure octane at 25 °C are 45.8 torr and 10.9 torr, respectively. Assuming ideal behavior, answer the following: d. Why is the composition of the vapor different from the composition of the solution?

1207
views
Textbook Question

A glucose solution contains 55.8 g of glucose (C6H12O6) in 455 g of water. Determine the freezing point and boiling point of the solution.

3181
views
Textbook Question

Calculate the freezing point and boiling point of each aqueous solution, assuming complete dissociation of the solute. c. 5.5% NaNO3 by mass (in water)

2334
views
Textbook Question

What mass of salt (NaCl) should you add to 1.00 L of water in an ice cream maker to make a solution that freezes at -10.0 °C? Assume complete dissociation of the NaCl and density of 1.00 g/mL for water.

2756
views