A solution contains 25% water, 25% ethanol and 50% acetic acid by mass. Calculate the mole fraction of each component.

A solution contains 25% water, 25% ethanol and 50% acetic acid by mass

1.	A solution contains 25% water, 25% ethanol and 50% acetic acid by mass. Calculate the mole fraction of each component.
Answer» SOLUTION :Suppose, we have 100 g of the GIVEN solution. Then, mass of WATER = 25g mass of ethanol = 25 g and mass of acetic acid = 50 g. The molecular MASSES of water, ethanol and acetic acid are 18, 46 and 60 RESPECTIVELY. Therefore, number of moles of water `(n_(1)) = 25/18 = 1.39` number of moles of ethanol `(n_(2)) = 25/46 = 0.54` and number of moles of acetic acid `(n_(3)) = 50/60 = 0.83` Total number of moles in solution = `n_(1) + n_(2) + n_(3) = 1.39 + 0.54 + 0.83 = 2.76` Mole fraction of water = `n_(1)/(n_(1) + n_(2)+ n_(3))` `=1.39/2.76 = 0.503` Mole fraction of ethanol `=n_(2)/(n_(1) + n_(2) + n_(3))` `=0.54/2.76 = 0.196` Mole fraction of acetic acid = `n_(3)/(n_(1) + n_(2) + n_(3)) = 0.83/2.76 = 0.301`