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

Explanation

Let us suppose that the total mass of the solution is 100g.then
Amount of water = 25 g
Amount of ethanol = 25 g
Amount of acetic acid = 50 g
25g of water = `25/(18)` = 1.388 moles `[because"Molar mass"H_(2)O` = 18 g/mol]
25g of ethanol = `25/(46)` = 0.543 moles `[because` Molar mass ethanol = 46 g/mol]
50g of acetic acid = `50/(60)` = 0.833 moles `[because` Molar mass acetic acid = 60 g/mol]
Hence we are to calculate
Mole fraction of ethanol = `0.543/(1.388+0.543+0.833)=0.543/(2.764)=0.196`
Mole fraction of acetic acid = `0.833/(2.764)=0.301`