NVAMediumJEE 2026Raoult's Law & Vapour Pressure

JEE Chemistry 2026 Question with Solution

Two liquids A and B form an ideal solution. At 320K320 \, \text{K}, the vapour pressure of the solution, containing 33 mol of A and 11 mol of B is 500mm Hg500 \, \text{mm Hg}. At the same temperature, if 11 mol of A is further added... vapour pressure of B in pure state is _____ mm Hg\text{mm Hg}. (Nearest integer)

Answer

Correct answer:200

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The solution is ideal and follows Raoult's law. Initially, nA=3n_A = 3, nB=1n_B = 1, and total vapour pressure is 500mm Hg500 \, \text{mm Hg}. After adding 11 mol of A, nA=4n_A = 4, nB=1n_B = 1, and total vapour pressure is 520mm Hg520 \, \text{mm Hg}.

Find: Vapour pressure of pure B, that is PBP_B^\circ.

According to Raoult's law,

Psolution=xAPA+xBPBP_{\text{solution}} = x_A P_A^\circ + x_B P_B^\circ

Case I:

xA=34,xB=14x_A = \frac{3}{4}, \qquad x_B = \frac{1}{4}

So,

500=34PA+14PB500 = \frac{3}{4}P_A^\circ + \frac{1}{4}P_B^\circ

Multiplying by 44,

2000=3PA+PB2000 = 3P_A^\circ + P_B^\circ

This is equation (1)(1).

Case II: After adding 11 mol of A,

xA=45,xB=15x_A = \frac{4}{5}, \qquad x_B = \frac{1}{5}

So,

520=45PA+15PB520 = \frac{4}{5}P_A^\circ + \frac{1}{5}P_B^\circ

Multiplying by 55,

2600=4PA+PB2600 = 4P_A^\circ + P_B^\circ

This is equation (2)(2).

Subtract equation (1)(1) from equation (2)(2):

600=PA600 = P_A^\circ

Substitute PA=600P_A^\circ = 600 into equation (1)(1):

2000=3(600)+PB2000 = 3(600) + P_B^\circ 2000=1800+PB2000 = 1800 + P_B^\circ PB=200mm HgP_B^\circ = 200 \, \text{mm Hg}

Therefore, the vapour pressure of B in pure state is 200mm Hg200 \, \text{mm Hg}. Hence, the numerical answer is 200.

Using simultaneous equations

Given: Two observations of total vapour pressure are provided for the same ideal binary solution.

Find: The pure vapour pressure PBP_B^\circ.

For an ideal binary solution, total vapour pressure depends linearly on mole fractions of the two components. Using the two compositions gives two linear equations in PAP_A^\circ and PBP_B^\circ.

From the first composition:

500=34PA+14PB500 = \frac{3}{4}P_A^\circ + \frac{1}{4}P_B^\circ 2000=3PA+PB2000 = 3P_A^\circ + P_B^\circ

From the second composition:

520=45PA+15PB520 = \frac{4}{5}P_A^\circ + \frac{1}{5}P_B^\circ 2600=4PA+PB2600 = 4P_A^\circ + P_B^\circ

Now eliminate PBP_B^\circ by subtraction:

(4PA+PB)(3PA+PB)=26002000(4P_A^\circ + P_B^\circ) - (3P_A^\circ + P_B^\circ) = 2600 - 2000 PA=600P_A^\circ = 600

Put this in the first equation:

3(600)+PB=20003(600) + P_B^\circ = 2000 1800+PB=20001800 + P_B^\circ = 2000 PB=200P_B^\circ = 200

Thus, the vapour pressure of pure B is 200mm Hg200 \, \text{mm Hg}.

Common mistakes

  • Using mole numbers directly in Raoult's law instead of mole fractions is incorrect because Raoult's law uses xAx_A and xBx_B, not nAn_A and nBn_B. First convert moles to mole fractions before forming the pressure equation.

  • Keeping the old total number of moles after adding 11 mol of A is wrong. In the second case, total moles become 55, so the correct mole fractions are 45\frac{4}{5} and 15\frac{1}{5}, not 44\frac{4}{4} and 14\frac{1}{4}.

  • Subtracting the equations in the wrong order can lead to a sign error in PAP_A^\circ. Write both equations in the same form and then subtract carefully so that the PBP_B^\circ terms cancel exactly.

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