Two open beakers one containing a solvent and the other containing a m...
**Explanation:**
When a solvent and a non-volatile solute are mixed together, the solute particles dissolve in the solvent, resulting in the formation of a solution. In this case, the solvent is in one beaker, and the mixture of solvent and solute is in the other beaker.
When the two open beakers are sealed in a container, the following processes occur over time:
**1. Evaporation and Condensation:**
- The solvent molecules in the beaker containing only the solvent will evaporate into the container.
- These evaporated solvent molecules will then condense on the walls of the container.
- This process continues until an equilibrium is reached, where the rate of evaporation is equal to the rate of condensation.
- As a result, the volume of the solvent in the beaker decreases over time due to evaporation.
**2. Dissolution and Precipitation:**
- The non-volatile solute particles in the beaker containing the mixture will dissolve in the solvent.
- This process continues until an equilibrium is reached, where the rate of dissolution is equal to the rate of precipitation.
- As a result, the volume of the solution in the beaker increases over time due to the addition of solute particles.
**3. Equilibrium and Volume Changes:**
- As the solvent evaporates and the solution volume increases, an equilibrium is established between the solution and the evaporated solvent in the container.
- The equilibrium is dynamic, meaning that both evaporation and condensation, as well as dissolution and precipitation, continue to occur.
- However, the net effect is that the volume of the solution increases, and the volume of the solvent decreases over time.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A': the volume of the solution increases, and the volume of the solvent decreases.
It is important to note that the non-volatile solute does not evaporate from the beaker, as it has a negligible vapor pressure compared to the solvent. Only the solvent molecules can evaporate and condense.
Two open beakers one containing a solvent and the other containing a m...
Two open beakers one containing a solvent and the other containing a mixture of that solvent with a non volatile solute are together sealed in a container, the volume of the solution increases and the volume of the solvent decreases.