Which solution has the higher vapor pressure? (A) A solution that boils at 100^@ "C" (B) A solution that boils at -33^@ "C"

(A) A solution that boils at 100^@ "C"
(B) A solution that boils at -33^@ "C"

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Apr 2, 2016

Vapor pressure is just the amount of gas in the liquid-gas equilibrium; the higher the vapor pressure, the more gas there is, and thus the vaporization can occur more easily, as it is easier to shift the liquid-gas equilibrium to vaporize more liquid into gas when there is a lot of gas.

A has the higher boiling point, so it is harder to vaporize, since you have to reach a higher temperature for the vapor pressure to equal the atmospheric pressure, which would be what makes the vaporization occur.

Since A is harder to vaporize, it has the lower vapor pressure. Therefore, B has the higher vapor pressure.

If that isn't enough detail, I've covered it in more detail here.

Related questions
See all questions in Vapor Pressure and Boiling
Impact of this question
6902 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License