1. What is Mole Fraction?

The mole fraction (X_i) is a way of expressing the concentration of a component in a mixture. It is defined as the ratio of the number of moles of a component to the total number of moles in the mixture.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the mole fraction formula:

Where:

• \( X_i \) — Mole fraction of component i (dimensionless)
• \( n_i \) — Number of moles of component i (mol)
• \( n_{total} \) — Total number of moles in the mixture (mol)

Explanation: The mole fraction is always between 0 and 1, where 0 means the component is absent and 1 means it's the only component present.

3. Importance of Mole Fraction

Details: Mole fraction is particularly useful in gas mixtures and solutions because it is temperature-independent and directly relates to partial pressures in gas mixtures through Dalton's Law.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of moles of the component and the total number of moles in the mixture. Both values must be positive, and the total moles must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between mole fraction and mass fraction?
A: Mole fraction uses moles (particle counts) while mass fraction uses mass. Mole fraction is often more useful in gas mixtures and chemical reactions.

Q2: Can mole fraction be greater than 1?
A: No, mole fraction is always between 0 and 1 because it's a ratio of part to whole.

Q3: How does mole fraction relate to partial pressure?
A: For ideal gases, partial pressure equals mole fraction times total pressure (P_i = X_i × P_total).

Q4: When is mole fraction preferred over molarity?
A: Mole fraction is preferred when dealing with gas mixtures or when temperature varies, as it doesn't depend on volume.

Q5: How to convert between mole fraction and percentage?
A: Multiply mole fraction by 100 to get mole percent (X_i × 100 = %).