GARCIA, Krizzi Eve D.

3CHEM1

I. TITLE:

Cryoscopyic Determination of Molecular Weight

II. OBJECTIVES:

● To understand the concept of colligative properties of solutes particularly

the freezing point depression
● To determine the freezing point depression of a solution
● To determine the van ‘t Hoff factor of solutes using the formula
● To calculate the molar mass of an unknown solute by applying the
principles of colligative properties

III. METHODOLOGY:
The cryoscopic method involves a simple setup where the temperature of
the particular solution immersed in a waterbath is closely monitored using a
thermometer. The figure below shows the arrangement of the apparatus.
 The experimental set-up consisted of a water bath, test tube,
thermometer and a stirrer. The reagents used as a solvent were water and carbon tetrachloride
while the solutes were sodium chloride, aluminum chloride, urea and sulphur. The experiment
was divided into four parts in which the compositions of the solution were varied for each part.
The first part involved a solution with a polar solvent and a salt. While the second part involves
the same type of components with different reagents. The third part involved a polar solvent and
a polar solute while the solution for the last part consisted of a solvent and a solute that are both
nonpolar. For each case, the desired solvent and solute was chosen and weighed according to
the preferred weights for each trial. Each part was conducted in three trials and for each trial,
the masses of the components were varied. The experiment began by putting the appropriate
reagents in the glass tube to form the solution. The thermometer was immersed in the solution
to measure the temperature at which the solution freezes (also known as the freezing point).
The solution was stirred vigorously to ensure all solute particles were dissolved and evenly
distributed throughout the liquid. Finally, the tube was placed into the water bath and the
apparatus was turned on. The resulting temperature was recorded for each trial. In each trial the
temperatures were recorded for only the solvent and then the impure liquid. The data collected
was applied in the calculations for the molar mass.

The data was interpreted by applying the principles of colligative properties. The freezing
point of each solvent was recorded. The freezing point depression of a solvent is the specific
temperature at which both the liquid and solid phase are in equilibrium. The measurement of the
difference between the freezing points observed , the depression can also be calculated. With
this, the appropriate equation is shown below:

ΔT =Kf . m. i

Where ΔT is the temperature difference between the freezing point of the pure solvent and
impure solvent

Kf is the cryoscopic constant

m is the molality

i is the Van’t Hoff constant

The equation relates the freezing point depression with the molality of a substance. The molality
refers to the ratio of the amount of substance of solute in moles and the mass of solvent in
kilograms. With this, the equation can be modified to get the molality using the freezing point
temperatures then relating the molality with the amount of solute to get the unknown’s molar
mass. The obtained molar mass can be used to identify the identity of the substance by
comparing the value with the molar mass values of known substances.

IV. RESULTS:
 The main objective of the experiment was to understand the concept of colligative
properties and its relation to the determination of an unknown substance’s molar mass. The
table below summarizes the experimental data obtained from the procedures done.

PART A. Polar solvent + Salt 1

Polar solvent (Water)

Water + Sodium Chloride

PART B. Polar Solvent + Salt 2

Polar solvent (Water)

Water + Sodium Chloride

PART B. Polar Solvent + Polar Compound

Polar solvent (Water)

Water + Sodium Chloride

PART D. Non-Polar Solvent + Non-Polar Compound

Polar solvent (Water)

Water + Sodium Chloride

In order to interpret the results of the experiment, the observed freezing point temperatures
were supplied into the aforementioned equation. Then
 V. CALCULATIONS:

In order to interpret the results of the experiment, the observed freezing point temperatures
were supplied into the aforementioned equation.

PART A
 Trial 1
T solvent −T solution=K f . m. i
0−(6.358)=(−1.86 C /m)(m)(2)
m=1.71 m
mol
moles of NaCl=1.71 x 0.05 kg=0.0855 mol
kg
5.0 g
molar mass of unknown= =58.51 g /mol
0.0855 mol

 Trial 2
T solvent −T solution=K f . m. i
0−(6.358)=(−1.86 C /m)(m)(2)
m=1.71 m
mol
moles of NaCl=1.71 x 0.05 kg=0.0855 mol
kg
5.0 g
molar mass of unknown= =58.51 g /mol
0.0855 mol
 Trial 3
T solvent −T solution=K f . m. i
0−(6.358)=(−1.86 C /m)(m)(2)
m=1.71 m
mol
moles of NaCl=1.71 x 0.05 kg=0.0855 mol
kg
5.0 g
molar mass of unknown= =58.51 g /mol
0.0855 mol
PART B
 Trial 1
T solvent −T solution=K f . m. i
0−(6.358)=(−1.86 C /m)(m)(2)
m=1.71 m
mol
moles of NaCl=1.71 x 0.05 kg=0.0855 mol
kg
5.0 g
molar mass of unknown= =58.51 g /mol
0.0855 mol

 Trial 2
 T solvent −T solution=K f . m. i
0−(6.358)=(−1.86 C /m)(m)(2)
m=1.71 m
mol
moles of NaCl=1.71 x 0.05 kg=0.0855 mol
kg
5.0 g
molar mass of unknown= =58.51 g /mol
0.0855 mol
 Trial 3
T solvent −T solution=K f . m. i
0−(6.358)=(−1.86 C /m)(m)(2)
m=1.71 m
mol
moles of NaCl=1.71 x 0.05 kg=0.0855 mol
kg
5.0 g
molar mass of unknown= =58.51 g /mol
0.0855 mol

Table 1. Percent error data% Error Calculation

a) True value = 42.200 kJ/mol b) Experimental value = 42.160 kJ/mol

Experimental−Theoretical
% error=¿ ∨¿x 100
Theoretical

42.160 kJ /mol−42.200 kJ /mol

% error=¿ ∨¿ x 100 = 0.094787 % or 0.095 %
42.200 kJ /mol

PART A

PART B

PART C

PART D

VI. CONCLUSION:
 The experiment conducted involved the concept of colligative properties
and its relation with the molar mass of a substance. The cryoscopic method of
determining the molecular mass of a solid demonstrates the significance of
solutions’ colligative properties particularly the freezing point depression. From
the obtained change in temperature, the molecular mass of the substance was
calculated. The added solutes in the solvent caused the lowering of the freezing
point of the solutions as compared with the pure solvent. This is due to the
particles of the solute interfering with the solvent’s ordered state thus, requiring a
lower temperature for solidification to occur.
The objectives of the experiment were achieved with the determination of
the theoretical molecular mass of the solutes used in the experiment. The
experiment’s percent relative error was low _______. The calculated molecular
mass was much smaller as compared with the true value. Errors committed have
affected the resulting values. Some of these could be the incorrect freezing
points measured, improper transferring of the weighed solids from the foil to the
test tube, and letting particles stick to the thermometer thus changing molality.
Overall, this method is an effective way of determining the identity of an unknown
compound present in a solvent.