To determine the weight percentage of nitrobenzene in the vapor above a mixture of water and nitrobenzene at a boiling point of 372 K, we can use Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures along with the concept of vapor pressure. Let's break this down step by step.
Understanding the Components
We have two immiscible liquids: water and nitrobenzene. At 372 K, the vapor pressures are given as:
- Vapor pressure of water (Pw) = 97.7 kPa
- Vapor pressure of nitrobenzene (Pnb) = 3.6 kPa
Calculating Total Vapor Pressure
The total vapor pressure (Ptotal) above the mixture can be calculated by summing the individual vapor pressures:
Ptotal = Pw + Pnb = 97.7 kPa + 3.6 kPa = 101.3 kPa
Finding Mole Fractions
Next, we need to find the mole fractions of each component in the vapor phase. The mole fraction of each component in the vapor can be calculated using the formula:
Xcomponent = Pcomponent / Ptotal
For water:
Xw = Pw / Ptotal = 97.7 kPa / 101.3 kPa ≈ 0.964
For nitrobenzene:
Xnb = Pnb / Ptotal = 3.6 kPa / 101.3 kPa ≈ 0.036
Calculating Weight Percentages
Now, to find the weight percentage of nitrobenzene in the vapor, we need to convert the mole fractions to weight fractions. This requires the molar masses of the substances:
- Molar mass of water (H2O) = 18 g/mol
- Molar mass of nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2) = 123 g/mol
Next, we can calculate the weight of each component in the vapor:
Weight of water = Xw × Molar mass of water = 0.964 × 18 g/mol ≈ 17.352 g
Weight of nitrobenzene = Xnb × Molar mass of nitrobenzene = 0.036 × 123 g/mol ≈ 4.428 g
Final Calculation of Weight Percentage
The total weight of the vapor is the sum of the weights of both components:
Total weight = Weight of water + Weight of nitrobenzene = 17.352 g + 4.428 g ≈ 21.780 g
Now, we can find the weight percentage of nitrobenzene in the vapor:
Weight % of nitrobenzene = (Weight of nitrobenzene / Total weight) × 100
Weight % of nitrobenzene = (4.428 g / 21.780 g) × 100 ≈ 20.3%
Summary
Thus, the weight percentage of nitrobenzene in the vapor above the mixture at 372 K is approximately 20.3%. This calculation illustrates how vapor pressures and mole fractions can be utilized to derive weight percentages in a mixture of immiscible liquids.