Asolution is made by mixing equal masses of methanol, ch4o, and ethanol, c2h6o. how would you determine the mole fraction of each component to at least three significant figures?

Explanation:

1) Definition of mole fraction: number of moles of a component / number of moles total number of moles.

2) The number of moles of each component is determined from the respective molar mass. Using the letter n for the number of moles of a component:  

3)      CH₄O

        Molar mass CH₄O = 32.04 g/mol

        n₁ = mass CH₄O / 32.04 g/mol

4)  C₂H₆O

        Molar mass C₂H₆O = 46.07 g/mol

        n₂ = C₂H₆O = mass of C₂H₆O / 46.07 g/mol

5) Both masses are equal; call them m.

6) Mole fraction of CH₄O:

Use the letter X for mole fraction.

Cancel the common factor m:

        X₁ =  [ 1 / 32.04] / [1 / 32.04 + 1 /46.07] = 0.590

7) Mole fraction of C₂H₆O

The mole fractions are rounded to three significant figures.

first one is the correct answer