Chapter 4: Problem 11

The mass density of a mixture of ethyl alcohol and water is 950 \(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\). Is the mixture mostly water, mostly alcohol, or about half and half? What is your reasoning?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer: Mostly water.

Step by step solution

Find the mass densities of pure ethyl alcohol and water

To assess the composition of the mixture, we must first determine the mass densities of pure ethyl alcohol and water. The mass density of ethyl alcohol is 789 kg/m³, and the mass density of water is 1000 kg/m³.

Compare the mass density of the mixture to the mass densities of pure ethyl alcohol and water

Next, we need to compare the mass density of the mixture (950 kg/m³) to the mass densities of pure ethyl alcohol (789 kg/m³) and water (1000 kg/m³). This will help us understand which component is more present in the mixture.

Determine the composition of the mixture

Since the mass density of the mixture is 950 kg/m³, we can see that it lies between the mass density of ethyl alcohol (789 kg/m³) and the mass density of water (1000 kg/m³). If the mixture was mostly ethyl alcohol, its mass density would be closer to 789 kg/m³. If the mixture was mostly water, its mass density would be closer to 1000 kg/m³. If the mixture was about half-and-half, its mass density would be roughly in the middle of the mass densities of ethyl alcohol and water. Based on the mass density of the mixture being 950 kg/m³, we can conclude that the mixture is mostly water, as the mass density is closer to the mass density of water (1000 kg/m³) than that of ethyl alcohol (789 kg/m³).

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The mass density of a mixture of ethyl alcohol and water is 950 \(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\). Is the mixture mostly water, mostly alcohol, or about half and half? What is your reasoning?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Find the mass densities of pure ethyl alcohol and water

Compare the mass density of the mixture to the mass densities of pure ethyl alcohol and water

Determine the composition of the mixture

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