Asolution is made by mixing equal masses of methanol, ch4o, and ethanol, c2h6o. determine the mole fraction of each component to at least three significant figures. xmeth= xeth=

Explanation:

The mole fraction of a component is the ratio of the number of moles of the component to the total number of moles of the solution.

Now, the number of moles of each component is determined from its molar mass as:

Thus, you can write:

        Molar mass CH₄O = 32.04 g/mol

        Number of moles CH₄O = mass CH₄O / 32.04 g/mol

        Molar mass C₂H₆O = 46.07 g/mol

        Number moles C₂H₆O = mass of C₂H₆O / 46.07 g/mol

Since both masses are equal, call them m.

Mole fraction of CH₄O =  [ m / 32.04 ] / [ m / 32.04 + m / 46.07]

         [ 1 / 32.04] / [1 / 32.04 + 1 /46.07] = 0.5898

Since, the sum of the mole fractions of all the components is 1 and  there are only two components:

Mole fraction of C₂H₆O = 1 - 0.5898 = 0.4102

Those numbers are rounded to four significant figures.

c. heat could easily travel through the molecules in the air and escape/enter the flask. removing the air slows down the heat transfer.