A solution is prepared from 4.5701 g of magnesium chloride and 43.238 g of water. The vapor pressure of water above this solution is 0.3624 atm at 348.0 K. The vapor pressure of pure water at this temperature is 0.3804 atm. Find the value of the van't Hoff factor for magnesium chloride in this solution.

i = 2.483

Explanation:

The vapour pressure lowering formula is:

Pₐ = Xₐ×P⁰ₐ (1)

For electrolytes:

Pₐ = nH₂O / (nH₂O + inMgCl₂)×P⁰ₐ

Where:

Pₐ is vapor pressure of solution (0.3624atm), nH₂O are moles of water, nMgCl₂ are moles of MgCl₂, i is Van't Hoff Factor, Xₐ is mole fraction of solvent and P⁰ₐ is pressure of pure solvent (0.3804atm)

4.5701g of MgCl₂ are:

4.5701g ₓ (1mol / 95.211g) = 0.048000 moles

43.238g of water are:

43.238g ₓ (1mol / 18.015g) = 2.400 moles

Replacing in (1):

0.3624atm = 2,4mol / (2.4mol + i*0.048mol)×0.3804atm

0.3624atm / 0.3804atm = 2,4mol / (2.4mol + i*0.048mol)

2.4mol + i*0.048mol = 2.4mol / 0.9527

2.4mol + i*0.048mol = 2.5192mol

i*0.048mol = 2.5192mol - 2.4mol

i = 0.1192mol / 0.048mol

i = 2.483

I hope it helps!

the ideal gas law equation is as follows

pv = nrt

where p - pressure

v - volume

n - number of moles

r - universal gas constant

t - temperature

so if the pressure, volume and temperature are already known

we are left with n and r

since r is the universal gas constant that has a known fixed value then r too is known

so we are left with 'n'

once we know temperature volume and pressure

we can find the number of moles of gas present using the ideal gas law equation

this is not my own answer, this is an answer for the same question by the user blahblahmali. i do not claim ownership of this account.