Question:medium

X, Y, and Z are three volatile liquids, which when mixed make an ideal solution. At a given temperature $\text{T}_0$, the constituents X, Y, and Z have pure vapour pressures in the ratio 3:2:1. A mixture prepared with mole-fractions of X, Y, and Z in the ratio 1:2:3 starts to boil at temperature $\text{T}_0$ at 1.5 atm pressure. At temperature $\text{T}_0$, the partial vapour pressure (in atm) of Y is:

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Double check your calculations by verifying that the sum of the partial pressures equals the total pressure:
\[ P_{\text{X}} = 0.45\ \text{atm}, \quad P_{\text{Y}} = 0.60\ \text{atm}, \quad P_{\text{Z}} = 0.45\ \text{atm} \implies \sum P = 1.50\ \text{atm}. \]
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
  • $\frac{3}{5}$
  • $\frac{9}{10}$
  • $\frac{1}{6}$
  • $\frac{9}{20}$
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Set up the pure pressures.
The pure vapour pressures of X, Y, Z are in the ratio 3:2:1. So we can call them $3k$, $2k$, and $1k$ for some number $k$. Once we find $k$, we can find each partial pressure.

Step 2: Set up the mole fractions.
The mole fractions of X, Y, Z are in the ratio 1:2:3, and they must add up to 1. Their total parts are $1+2+3 = 6$, so the mole fractions are $\frac{1}{6}$, $\frac{2}{6}$, and $\frac{3}{6}$ for X, Y, Z.

Step 3: Apply Raoult's law for the total.
For an ideal solution the total pressure is the sum of each mole fraction times each pure pressure: \[ P_{total} = \tfrac{1}{6}(3k) + \tfrac{2}{6}(2k) + \tfrac{3}{6}(1k). \]

Step 4: Simplify the total.
Adding the parts: $\tfrac{1}{6}(3k) = \tfrac{3k}{6}$, $\tfrac{2}{6}(2k) = \tfrac{4k}{6}$, and $\tfrac{3}{6}(1k) = \tfrac{3k}{6}$. The sum is $\tfrac{3k+4k+3k}{6} = \tfrac{10k}{6} = \tfrac{5k}{3}$.

Step 5: Solve for $k$.
The mixture boils at 1.5 atm, so $P_{total} = 1.5$ atm. Setting $\tfrac{5k}{3} = 1.5$ gives $k = \tfrac{1.5 \times 3}{5} = \tfrac{4.5}{5} = 0.9$ atm.

Step 6: Find the partial pressure of Y.
The partial pressure of Y is its mole fraction times its pure pressure: $p_Y = \tfrac{2}{6} \times 2k = \tfrac{2}{6} \times 2(0.9) = \tfrac{2}{6} \times 1.8 = 0.6$ atm, which is $\tfrac{3}{5}$.

\[ \boxed{p_Y = \dfrac{3}{5}\ \text{atm}} \]
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