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Raoult's law for volatile liquids states that the partial vapour pressure of each component in the solution is directly proportional to its mole fraction, whereas for a non-volatile solute, it states that the vapour pressure of a solution of a non-volatile solute is equal to the vapour pressure of the pure solvent at that temperature multiplied by its mole fraction. Two liquids A and B are mixed with each other to form a solution, the vapour phase consists of both components of the solution. Once the components in the solution have reached equilibrium, the total vapour pressure of the solution can be determined by combining Raoult's law with Dalton's law of partial pressures. If a non-volatile solute B is dissolved into a solvent A to form a solution, the vapour pressure of the solution will be lower than that of the pure solvent. The solutions which obey Raoult's law over the entire range of concentration are ideal solutions, whereas the solutions for which vapour pressure is either higher or lower than that predicted by Raoult's law are called non-ideal solutions. Non-ideal solutions are identified by determining the strength of the intermolecular forces between the different molecules in that particular solution. They can either show positive or negative deviation from Raoult's law depending on whether the A – B interactions in solution are stronger or weaker than A – A and B – B interactions. Answer the following questions :
According to the generally accepted definition of the ideal solution there are equal interaction forces acting between molecules belonging to the same or different species. (This is equivalent to the statement that the activity of the components equals the concentration.) Strictly speaking, this condition is fulfilled only in exceptional cases for mixtures (optical isomers, isotopic mixtures of an element, hydrocarbon mixtures). It is still usual to talk about ideal solutions as limiting cases in reality since very dilute solutions behave ideally with respect to the solvent. This view is further supported by the fact that Raoult's law empirically found for describing the behaviour of the solvent in dilute solutions can be deduced thermodynamically via the assumption of ideal behaviour of the solvent.
A solution of acetone in chloroform :
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