According to Raoult's Law, how is the vapor pressure of a solution calculated when adding a volatile solute in an ideal solution?

Raoult's Law states that the vapor pressure of a solvent in a solution is directly proportional to the mole fraction of that solvent. When a volatile solute is added to an ideal solution, the total vapor pressure of the solution can be determined by applying Raoult's Law to each component of the solution separately.

For a solution containing a solvent and a volatile solute, you would calculate the partial vapor pressures for each component based on their respective mole fractions. The total vapor pressure of the solution is then the sum of these partial vapor pressures. Specifically, for each component, the vapor pressure is calculated by multiplying the mole fraction of that component by its vapor pressure in the pure state.

This approach accurately reflects the behavior of both the solvent and the solute, considering their individual properties while taking into account their interactions in the mixture. By applying Raoult's Law separately to each component, you can derive the total vapor pressure of the solution effectively.