Vapor-Pressure Lowering
Definition
Vapor-pressure lowering refers to the decrease in vapor pressure caused by adding nonvolatile solutes to volatile liquids (solvents).
Analogy
Consider your internet speed as vapor pressure and streaming videos as nonvolatile solutes. When you start streaming multiple videos at once (adding solutes), your internet speed (vapor pressure) decreases.
Related terms
Nonvolatile Solute: A substance that does not readily evaporate into a gas under existing conditions.
Volatile Solvent: A substance that can easily become a gas at room temperature.
Raoult's Law: The law stating that the partial pressure of each component of an ideal mixture of liquids is equal to the vapor pressure of the pure component multiplied by its mole fraction in the mixture.
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