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In my textbook, it is written that lowering of vapour pressure is not a colligative property but relative lowering of vapour pressure is a colligative property. But why is that? There is literally no explanation given in my textbook as to why this is true. Please someone explain. I am so confused. Please help. (By lowering of vapour pressure I mean $P_{0} - P_{S}$ where $P_{0}$ is the vapour pressure of pure solvent and $P_{S}$ is the vapour pressure of the solvent containing non-volative solute. Relative Lowering in Vapour Pressure means $\frac{P_{0} - P_{S}}{P_{0}}$).

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  • $\begingroup$ Could you clarify with respect to the difference between 'relative lowering' and 'lowering'? $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    May 6, 2021 at 18:27
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    $\begingroup$ Consider reporting the whole sentences $\endgroup$
    – Alchimista
    May 7, 2021 at 9:10
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    $\begingroup$ Yeah, like @Alchimista said, please give us the complete quote; plus please include a full citation to the textbook (author, name, publication year, publisher, edition, etc.). $\endgroup$
    – theorist
    Jun 23, 2021 at 4:23
  • $\begingroup$ Both 'lowering of vapour pressure' and 'relative lowering of vapour pressure' are colligative properties. $\endgroup$
    – Silica19
    Aug 3, 2022 at 13:09
  • $\begingroup$ In my textbook of Maharashtra state board it is mentioned that both lowering in vapor pressure and rative lowering in vap pressure are colligative properties. $\endgroup$
    – user130590
    Jan 18, 2023 at 5:20

1 Answer 1

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A colligative property is a property which depends on number of solute particles and not on nature of solute particles. Relative lowering in vapour pressure is equal to the mole fraction of the solute . This can be derived using $P_s=P_0\cdot x_\text{solvent}$ where $x$ is the mole fraction and Po is the vapour pressure of pure solvent. Lowering of vapour pressure is also a colligative property as it is equal to $\frac{x_\text{solute}}{P_0}$. $P_0$ is a property of the solvent, not the solute.

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