Colligative properties are properties of solutions

that depend on the number of particles in a given

volume of solvent and not on the mass of the
particles[1]. Colligative properties include: lowering
of vapor pressure; elevation of boiling point;
depression of freezing point; osmotic pressure (see
Osmosis; Reverse Osmosis). Measurements of these
properties for a dilute aqueous solution of a non-
ionized solute such as urea or glucose can lead to
accurate determinations of relative molecular masses.
Alternatively, measurements for ionized solutes can
lead to an estimation of the percentage of ionization
taking place.
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[edit] Vapor pressure

The relationship between the lowering of vapor
pressure and concentration is given by Raoult's law,
which states that:
The vapor pressure of an ideal solution is
dependent on the vapor pressure of each
chemical component and the mole fraction of the
component present in the solution. (For details,
see the article on Raoult's law.)
[edit] Boiling point and freezing point
Both the boiling point elevation and the freezing
point depression are proportional to the lowering of
vapor pressure in a dilute solution
[edit] Boiling point elevation
Boiling Pointtotal = Boiling Pointsolvent + ΔTb
where
ΔTb = molality * Kb * i, (Kb = ebullioscopic
constant, which is 0.51°C kg/mol for the boiling
point of water; i = Van 't Hoff factor)

Since boiling point is achieved in the establishment

of equilibrium between liquid and gas phase, that is,
the number of molecules entering the molecules of a
system equals the number of vapor molecules leaving
the system, then an addition of solute would cause to
hinder some of the molecules to leave the system
because they are covering in the surface. To
compensate for this and re-attain the equilibrium,
boiling point therefore is achieved at higher
temperature.
[edit] Freezing point depression
Freezing Pointsolution = Freezing Pointsolvent - ΔTf
where :ΔTf = molality * Kf * i, (Kf = cryoscopic
constant, which is -1.86°C kg/mol for the freezing
point of water, this is very finr; i = Van 't Hoff factor)
Freezing point, or the equilibrium between a liquid
and solid phase is generally lowered in the presence
of a solute compared to a pure solvent. The solute
particles cannot enter the solid phase, hence, less
molecules participate in the equilibrium. Again, re-
establishment of equilibrium is achieved at a lower
temperature at which the rate of freezing becomes
equal at the rate of solidifying.
[edit] Osmotic pressure
Two laws governing the osmotic pressure of a dilute
solution were discovered by the German botanist W.
F. P. Pfeffer and the Dutch chemist J. H. van’t Hoff:
1. The osmotic pressure of a dilute solution at
constant temperature is directly proportional to
its concentration.
2. The osmotic pressure of a solution is directly
proportional to its absolute temperature.
These are analogous to Boyle's law and Charles's
Law for gases. Similarly, the combined ideal gas law,
PV = nRT, has an analog for ideal solutions:
πV = nRTi
where: π = osmotic pressure; V is the volume; T is
absolute temperature; n is the number of moles of
solute; R = 8.3145 J K-1mol-1, the molar gas
constant; i = Van 't Hoff factor.
[edit] References
1. ^ W.J. Moore Physical ChemistryPrentice-Hall
1972
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