alleryStart learning →The mole fraction of a component in a mixture is defined as which ratio?
AIts moles over the total moles
BIts mass over the total mass
CIts volume over total volume
DIts moles over the total mass
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Its moles over the total moles
1. Mole fraction counts amounts, not masses, so both the top and the bottom of the ratio are in moles.
2. It is the moles of that one component divided by the total moles of everything present.
3. Because moles cancel moles, the mole fraction has no units and always lies between 0 and 1.
4. Multiplying it by the total pressure gives that component's partial pressure.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 "Gases", section 9.3 Stoichiometry of Gaseous Substances, Mixtures, and Reactions_
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