The vapor pressure of carbon tetrachloride, CCl₄, is 0.354 atm, and the vapor pressure of chloroform, CHCl₃, is 0.526 atm at 316 K. A solution is prepared from equal masses of these two compounds at this temperature. Calculate the mole fraction of the chloroform in the vapor above the solution. If the vapor above the original solution is condensed and isolated into a separate flask, what will the vapor pressure of chloroform be above this new solution?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Determine the molar masses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and chloroform (CHCl3).
2. Calculate the number of moles of each compound using the formula: number of moles = mass / molar mass. Since the masses are equal, use the same mass value for both compounds.
3. Calculate the mole fraction of chloroform in the solution using the formula: mole fraction of CHCl3 = moles of CHCl3 / (moles of CCl4 + moles of CHCl3).
4. Use Raoult's Law to find the partial vapor pressures of each component in the solution. For each compound, multiply the mole fraction of the compound in the solution by its pure vapor pressure.
5. Calculate the total vapor pressure of the solution by adding the partial vapor pressures of CCl4 and CHCl3. Then, find the mole fraction of chloroform in the vapor phase using the formula: mole fraction of CHCl3 in vapor = partial pressure of CHCl3 / total vapor pressure.

Key Concepts

Vapor Pressure

Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid phase at a given temperature. It reflects the tendency of particles to escape from the liquid phase into the vapor phase. The higher the vapor pressure, the more volatile the substance. In this question, the vapor pressures of carbon tetrachloride and chloroform are essential for determining the composition of the vapor above the solution.

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. This principle allows us to calculate the partial pressures of each component in a mixture. In this scenario, Raoult's Law will be used to find the mole fraction of chloroform in the vapor above the solution, based on the known vapor pressures and the composition of the solution.

Mole Fraction

Mole fraction is a way of expressing the concentration of a component in a mixture, defined as the number of moles of that component divided by the total number of moles of all components in the mixture. It is a dimensionless quantity that helps in calculating various properties of solutions, including vapor pressures. In this question, calculating the mole fraction of chloroform in the vapor is crucial for understanding the behavior of the solution and its components.