According to Raoult's Law for solutions containing non-volatile solutes, the relative lowering of vapour pressure is equal to the mole fraction of the solute (xsolute). The formula is given by:
P0ΔP=xsolute
where ΔP is the lowering of vapour pressure and P0 is the vapour pressure of the pure solvent.
Step 1: Calculate the vapour pressure of the pure solvent (P0).
Using the first set of data:
ΔP1=10 mm Hg xsolute,1=0.2
Substituting into the formula:
P010=0.2
P0=0.210=50 mm Hg
Step 2: Calculate the mole fraction of the solute for the new condition.
Using the second set of data:
ΔP2=20 mm Hg P0=50 mm Hg (constant for the solvent at a given temperature)
5020=xsolute,2
xsolute,2=0.4
Step 3: Calculate the mole fraction of the solvent.
The sum of mole fractions of all components in a solution is unity (xsolvent+xsolute=1).
xsolvent=1−xsolute,2
xsolvent=1−0.4=0.6