Raoult's Law
What is Raoult's Law?
Raoult's law states that the partial vapor pressure of a component in an ideal solution is equal to the product of the vapor pressure of the pure component and its mole fraction in the solution: P_A = x_A × P°_A. It describes the behavior of ideal solutions (those in which solute-solvent interactions are similar to solvent-solvent interactions) and predicts colligative properties including vapor pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, and freezing point depression. Deviations from Raoult's law (positive or negative) indicate non-ideal behavior due to differing intermolecular interactions.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Raoult's law states that the partial vapor pressure of a component in an ideal solution is equal to the product of the vapor pressure of the pure component and its mole fraction in the solution: P_A = x_A × P°_A. It describes the behavior of ideal solutions (those in which solute-solvent interactions are similar to solvent-solvent interactions) and predicts colligative properties including vapor pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, and freezing point depression. Deviations from Raoult's law (positive or negative) indicate non-ideal behavior due to differing intermolecular interactions.