Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases (solid or liquid) at a given temperature in a closed system.
Predicting the vapor pressure of a solution is important for understanding its properties, such as boiling point and volatility. This information can be useful in various industries, such as in the production of pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Vapor pressure increases with temperature because as the temperature rises, the molecules of the liquid solution gain more kinetic energy and are able to escape from the surface of the liquid more easily, increasing the pressure of the vapor above it.
The vapor pressure of a solution is affected by temperature, the nature of the solute and solvent, and the concentration of the solution. Generally, as temperature and concentration increase, so does vapor pressure.
The solution with the lowest boiling point and the highest concentration of solute will typically have the highest vapor pressure. Additionally, solutions with volatile solvents and low molecular weight solutes tend to have higher vapor pressures.