
Raoult's law defines ideal solutions or those in which the gas phase has thermodynamic properties comparable to a combination of ideal gases. However, many solutions deviate from ideality due to various factors, such as differing attractive forces between liquid combinations. Positive deviations from Raoult's law occur when the vapour pressure above the solution is higher than expected, indicating stronger intermolecular forces between unlike molecules. On the other hand, negative deviations suggest weaker attractions between molecules, resulting in lower vapour pressures than expected. These deviations from Raoult's law provide valuable insights into the relative strength of intermolecular forces in solutions.
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What You'll Learn

Hydrogen bonding between molecules
Raoult's Law, a principle of physical chemistry, was formulated by French chemist François-Marie Raoult in 1887. This law explains the behaviour of liquids in ideal mixtures, stating that the partial vapour pressure of each component in an ideal mixture of liquids is directly proportional to its mole fraction in the mixture. In other words, the partial vapour pressure of a component in a mixture is equal to the vapour pressure of the pure component at the same temperature, multiplied by its mole fraction in the mixture.
However, many solutions deviate from Raoult's Law due to the lack of chemical equivalency between different chemical components. These deviations can be positive or negative. Hydrogen bonding between molecules is one such factor that causes a positive deviation in Raoult's Law. Hydrogen bonding increases the attraction between the molecules in the solution, leading to an increase in the solution's vapour pressure beyond the calculated value. This positive deviation indicates that the vapour pressure above the solution is higher than expected.
A positive deviation occurs when the cohesion between similar molecules is greater than the adhesion between dissimilar molecules, allowing both components to escape the solution more readily. This results in a higher vapour pressure compared to the pure components. The system of chloroform (CHCl3) and acetone (CH3COCH3) exhibits a negative deviation from Raoult's Law, indicating an attractive interaction between the two components that can be described as a hydrogen bond.
Comparing measured vapour pressures to predicted values from Raoult's Law provides valuable information about the true relative strength of intermolecular forces. If the vapour pressure is higher than predicted, it suggests that the forces between like molecules are stronger than anticipated. Conversely, if the vapour pressure is lower than predicted, it indicates that the forces between unlike molecules are stronger than expected.
It is important to note that Raoult's Law assumes an ideal solution, where the liquid phase is either nearly pure or a mixture of similar substances. Deviations from Raoult's Law occur when the attractive forces between molecules differ from this ideal behaviour. These deviations can provide insights into the relative strength of intermolecular forces and facilitate the separation of liquid mixtures through techniques like fractional distillation.
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Lack of chemical equivalency
Raoult's law, a principle of physical chemistry, was proposed by French chemist François-Marie Raoult in 1887. It states that the partial pressure of each component of an ideal mixture of liquids is equal to the vapour pressure of the pure component (liquid or solid) multiplied by its mole fraction in the mixture. An ideal solution would follow Raoult's law, but most solutions deviate from ideality due to the lack of chemical equivalency between different chemical components. This lack of chemical equivalency can be observed in the following ways:
Interactions between unlike molecules differ from those between like molecules
Raoult's law assumes that intermolecular forces between unlike molecules are equal to those between similar molecules, and that their molar volumes are the same. However, in many solutions, the interactions between solute-solvent molecules differ from those between solute-solute and solvent-solvent molecules. For example, in solutions of ethanol and acetone, the new intermolecular interaction is weaker than the pure component interactions of ethanol. This results in a positive deviation from Raoult's law, where the vapour pressure above the solution is higher than expected.
Stronger intermolecular forces in the solution than in the pure components
When the interactions between solute and solvent molecules are stronger than the interactions within the solute and solvent separately, the solution exhibits a negative deviation from Raoult's law. This is because the stronger intermolecular forces in the solution reduce the vapour pressure, making it lower than expected.
Hydrogen bonding between molecules
Hydrogen bonding between molecules in the solution can also cause a positive deviation from Raoult's law. The hydrogen bonds increase the attraction between the molecules, resulting in a higher vapour pressure than predicted.
Limited applicability to real-world circumstances
While Raoult's law is useful for defining ideal solutions, it has limitations when applied to real-world scenarios. This is because ideal solutions are uncommon and difficult to obtain. Most solutions contain a variety of chemical components that differ in their physical properties, preventing them from adhering fully to Raoult's law.
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Stronger solute-solvent interactions
Raoult's law applies only to ideal solutions, and an ideal solution is hard to find in reality. In an ideal solution, the solvent-solute interaction is the same as a solvent–solvent or solute–solute interaction. This means that both the solute and the solvent require the same amount of energy to escape to the vapour phase as when they are in their pure states.
However, in many pairs of liquids, there is no uniformity of attractive forces, i.e., the adhesive (between dissimilar molecules) and cohesive forces (between similar molecules) are not uniform between the two liquids. Therefore, they deviate from Raoult's law.
Negative deviations from Raoult's law occur when the interactions between solvents and solute molecules are stronger than solute-solute or solvent-solvent interactions. The vapour pressures of such solutions are lower than those of pure components. For example, the system of chloroform (CHCl3) and acetone (CH3COCH3) has a negative deviation from Raoult's law, indicating an attractive interaction between the two components.
Positive deviations from Raoult's law occur when solute-solvent intermolecular attractions are weaker than those between solute-solute molecules and solvent-solvent molecules. The vapour pressures of such solutions are higher than those of pure components. For example, the solutions of ethanol + acetone, carbon disulphide + acetone show positive deviations from Raoult's law.
Hydrogen bonding between molecules can also cause a positive divergence in Raoult's law. The attraction between the molecules in the solution is increased by these hydrogen bonds. As a result, the solution’s vapour pressure exceeds the calculation.
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Low vapour pressure
Raoult's law, proposed by French chemist François-Marie Raoult in 1887, states that the partial vapour pressure of each component of an ideal mixture of liquids is equal to the vapour pressure of the pure component (liquid or solid) multiplied by its mole fraction in the mixture. In other words, the vapour pressure of the solution is the mole-weighted mean of the individual vapour pressures.
However, in reality, the decrease in vapour pressure is often greater than that calculated by Raoult's Law, especially in extremely dilute solutions. This is because Raoult's Law assumes that the intermolecular forces between different molecules and similar molecules are equal. In many pairs of liquids, however, there is a lack of uniformity of attractive forces, and the adhesive and cohesive forces are not uniform between the two liquids.
One factor that can cause deviations from Raoult's Law is low vapour pressure. A negative deviation occurs when the vapour pressure is lower than expected from Raoult's Law. This happens when the interactions between solvents and solute molecules are stronger than solute-solvent or solvent-solvent interactions. The vapour pressures of such solutions are lower than those of pure components. For example, the system of chloroform (CHCl3) and acetone (CH3COCH3) has a negative deviation from Raoult's Law, indicating an attractive interaction between the two components.
Positive deviations from Raoult's Law occur when the vapour pressure is higher than expected. This happens when the interactions between solute-solvent molecules are weaker than those between solute-solute and solvent-solvent molecules. The vapour pressures of such solutions are higher than those of pure components. For instance, the solutions of ethanol + acetone and carbon disulphide + acetone show positive deviations from Raoult's Law.
In summary, deviations from Raoult's Law can occur due to low vapour pressure, with negative deviations indicating stronger intermolecular forces and positive deviations indicating weaker intermolecular forces compared to pure components.
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Non-ideal solutions
An ideal solution follows Raoult's law, but most solutions are non-ideal and deviate from it. Non-ideal solutions are those in which the interactions between unlike molecules are not of the same magnitude as those between like molecules. Raoult's law is valid when the liquid phase is either nearly pure or a mixture of similar substances.
The deviation of a solution from ideal behaviour can be attributed to solute-solvent interactions. In an ideal solution, the interactions between solute molecules (A-A), solvent molecules (B-B), and solvent-solute molecules (A-B) are expected to be similar. However, in non-ideal solutions, the interactions between solute and solvent molecules can be stronger or weaker than those between like molecules, leading to positive or negative deviations from Raoult's law, respectively.
Positive deviations from Raoult's law occur when the vapour pressure above the solution is higher than expected. This happens when the solute-solvent intermolecular attractions are weaker than those between solute-solute and solvent-solvent molecules. Hydrogen bonding between molecules can also cause a positive divergence in Raoult's law by increasing the attraction between the molecules in the solution. Examples of solutions exhibiting positive deviations include ethanol + acetone and carbon disulphide + acetone.
On the other hand, negative deviations from Raoult's law occur when the vapour pressure above the solution is lower than expected. This happens when the interactions between solvent and solute molecules are stronger than those between solute-solute or solvent-solvent molecules. Examples of solutions exhibiting negative deviations include chloroform and acetone, chloroform and methyl acetate, and acetic acid and pyridine.
To summarise, non-ideal solutions deviate from Raoult's law due to differences in the strength of intermolecular forces between solute and solvent molecules compared to those between like molecules. Positive deviations occur when vapour pressure is higher than expected due to weaker solute-solvent interactions, while negative deviations occur when vapour pressure is lower than expected due to stronger solute-solvent interactions.
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Frequently asked questions
A positive deviation from Raoult's Law indicates that the vapour pressure above the solution is higher than expected. This is caused by hydrogen bonding between the molecules, increasing the attraction between the molecules in the solution. Solutions that exhibit positive deviations include ethanol + acetone and carbon disulphide + acetone.
A negative deviation from Raoult's Law means that the vapour pressure of the solution is lower than that of its pure components. This occurs when the interactions between solvent and solute molecules are stronger than the interactions within the solvent and solute molecules themselves. Examples of solutions exhibiting negative deviations include chloroform and acetone, and chloroform and methyl acetate.
Raoult's Law assumes that the intermolecular forces between molecules of pure substances are identical to the forces between molecules of the other substance in a solution. Deviation occurs when there is a lack of chemical equivalency between different chemical components, resulting in differing attractive forces.

























