To determine the degree of dissociation of NaCl in your solution, we first need to understand a few key concepts related to colligative properties and vapor pressure. The degree of dissociation refers to the fraction of the solute that separates into ions when dissolved in a solvent. In the case of sodium chloride (NaCl), it dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
Understanding Vapor Pressure and Colligative Properties
When a non-volatile solute like NaCl is added to a solvent such as water, the vapor pressure of the solution decreases compared to that of the pure solvent. This decrease can be quantified using Raoult's Law, which states that the vapor pressure of a solvent in a solution is equal to the vapor pressure of the pure solvent multiplied by the mole fraction of the solvent in the solution.
Given Data
- Mass of NaCl = 2 g
- Mass of water = 100 g
- Vapor pressure of the solution = 753.2 mmHg
- Vapor pressure of pure water at 100°C = 760 mmHg
Calculating the Moles of NaCl
First, we need to calculate the number of moles of NaCl. The molar mass of NaCl is approximately 58.44 g/mol. Thus, the moles of NaCl can be calculated as follows:
Moles of NaCl = Mass / Molar Mass
Moles of NaCl = 2 g / 58.44 g/mol ≈ 0.0342 moles
Calculating the Moles of Water
Next, we calculate the moles of water. The molar mass of water (H2O) is about 18.02 g/mol:
Moles of Water = Mass / Molar Mass
Moles of Water = 100 g / 18.02 g/mol ≈ 5.55 moles
Finding the Mole Fraction of Water
The total number of moles in the solution is the sum of the moles of NaCl and the moles of water:
Total Moles = Moles of NaCl + Moles of Water
Total Moles = 0.0342 + 5.55 ≈ 5.5842 moles
The mole fraction of water (XH2O) is then calculated as:
XH2O = Moles of Water / Total Moles
XH2O = 5.55 / 5.5842 ≈ 0.9948
Applying Raoult's Law
According to Raoult's Law, the vapor pressure of the solution (Psolution) can be expressed as:
Psolution = XH2O × PH2O
Substituting the known values:
Psolution = 0.9948 × 760 mmHg ≈ 756.4 mmHg
Calculating the Degree of Dissociation
The observed vapor pressure of the solution is 753.2 mmHg, which is slightly less than the calculated value of 756.4 mmHg. The difference indicates that some of the NaCl has dissociated into ions. The degree of dissociation (α) can be calculated using the formula:
ΔP = PH2O - Psolution
Where ΔP is the change in vapor pressure. Thus:
ΔP = 760 mmHg - 753.2 mmHg = 6.8 mmHg
Now, we can relate this change to the degree of dissociation:
ΔP = α × PH2O × i × XH2O
Here, i is the van 't Hoff factor for NaCl, which is 2 (since it dissociates into two ions). Rearranging gives:
α = ΔP / (PH2O × i × XH2O)
Substituting the known values:
α = 6.8 mmHg / (760 mmHg × 2 × 0.9948) ≈ 0.0045
Final Thoughts
This means that the degree of dissociation of NaCl in your solution is approximately 0.0045, or 0.45%. This low value suggests that the dissociation of NaCl is not complete, which can happen under certain conditions, such as high ionic strength or specific interactions in the solution.