Addition of solute to a given solvent in a closed container — Solutions and Colligative Properties Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The addition of a non-volatile solute decreases the concentration of solvent molecules at the liquid surface, which directly decreases the rate of evaporation. Although at dynamic equilibrium the rate of condensation will also equal this lower rate of evaporation, the direct and immediate effect of solute addition is the reduction of evaporation rate.