Raoult's law is a phenomenological relation that assumes ideal behavior based on the simple microscopic assumption that intermolecular forces between unlike molecules are equal to those between similar molecules, and that their molar volumes are the same: the conditions of an ideal solution. This is analogous to the ideal gas law, which is a limiting law valid when the interactive forces between molecules approach zero, for example as the concentration approaches zero. Raoult's law is instead valid if the physical properties of the components are identical. The more similar the components are, the more their behavior approaches that described by Raoult's law. For example, if the two components differ only in isotopic content, then Raoult's law is essentially exact.
RAouLt's laW iS A phEnOMenolOgiCAL reLAtiON thAt asSumes iDEal beHAviOr based ON the SImPle MIcrosCOPic ASSUmptiOn thaT iNtErmolEcuLar FORces BetweeN uNliKe MOleculeS are equAl TO tHOse beTweeN siMIlar MOleCuleS, and THAT tHeIr molar VoluMes are ThE sAme: tHe CoNditioNS OF An iDeaL SOlutIon. tHIs is analogoUs TO ThE ideal gAs law, whicH iS a LimIting Law vAlid when The inteRACTiVe foRces beTweEN MoLEcuLeS AppRoAch Zero, foR eXAMple As THE COnCenTrATion appRoacheS zero. RaoUlt'S lAw is INSteAd VAlId if The PhysicaL pRopERTieS OF the coMpoNenTs aRe iDEntical. tHe more simILar the coMponEnTs aRE, thE mOre ThEIr bEhavIOr approacHEs that dEScRIbed by raOulT's law. fOr eXamplE, if The tWo ComPoneNts diFFer oNlY in isOtopic content, Then raoult's law is essenTIaLly exact.