COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES

Colligative Properties – properties that depend on the number, and not the kind, of solute particles in solution.
Types:
I. Vapor Pessure Lowering - The vapor pressure of a pure solvent is greater than the vapor pressure of a solution
containing a non volatile liquid.
In 1887, Francois Marie Raoult studied the vapor pressure of solutions at different concentrations. He found
out that the presence of a solute lowers the vapor pressure of the solvent.
Raoult’s Law – the lowering of vapor pressure (∆P) of a solvent is equal to the product of the mole fraction of
the solute and the vapor pressure of pure solvent (P0 ).
∆P = Xsolute x P0solvent where ∆P = vapor pressure of a solvent
X = mole fraction of the solute
P0 = vapor pressure of pure solvent
The vapor pressure of solution containing a non-volatile solute is lower than that of the pure solvent.
- fewer molecules are leaving to the gas phase.

The vapor pressure of a solvent in a solution is always lower than the vapor pressure of the pure solvent.
P 1 = X1 P 0 1
where,
P1 = vapor pressure of solution
X1 = mole fraction of the solvent in the solution
P0 = vapor pressure of the pure solvent
If a solution contains only one solute, X1 = 1 – X2, where X2, is the mole fraction of the solute.
Or, Psolution = Xsolvent P0solvent

If the solute is nonvolatile, the vapor pressure of the solution is entirely due to the vapor pressure of the
solvent, Psolution = Psolvent

II. Boiling Point Elevation

∆Tb = Kbm where ∆Tb = boiling point elevation Kb = molal boiling point constant
m = molal concentration of the solution
*the boiling points of solutions that contain non-volatile solutes are always higher than the boiling points of the
pure solvent.

III. Freezing Point Depression

∆Tf = Kfm where ∆Tf = freezing point depression Kf = molal freezing point constant
m = molal concentration of the solution
*molecules of liquids move more slowly and approach one another more closely as the temperature is lowered.
*the freezing point of a liquid is the temperature at which the forces of attraction among molecules are just
great enough to overcome their kinetic energies.
*the freezing/melting point of a substance is the temp. at which the liquid and solid phases are in equilibrium
*when a dilute solution freezes, it is the solvent that begins to solidify first, leaving the solute in a more
concentrated solution
*the temperature of a solution must be lowered below the freezing point of the pure solvent to freeze it.

IV. Osmotic Pressure

Osmosis – the spontaneous process by which the solvent molecules pass through a semi-permeable membrane
from a solution of lower concentration of solute into a solution of higher concentration of solute.
A semi-permeable membrane (like cellophane) separates two solutions.
Osmotic pressure – the pressure required to prevent the net flow of solvent into a solution.
Physiological solution or isotonic solution - solution with the same osmotic pressure as body fluid. Ex. and 0.92%
NaCl and 5% glucose
*if a red blood cell is placed in a saline solution greater than 0.92%, (a solution has higher concentration
than the red cells) the cell will shrink. The process is called crenation.
Hypertonic – saline solution has a higher osmotic pressure than the red blood cell.
*if red blood cell is placed in a saline solution lower than 0.92%, ( a solution has lower concentration
than the red cells)the cell swells and may burst. The saline solution is hypertonic.
 Hypotonic – has a lower concentration of dissolved particles than is present in the cell.
*osmotic pressure increases with increasing temperature because T affects the number of solvent-
membrane collisions per unit time.
Eq: π = nRT where π = osmotic pressure V = volume (in L)
V n = number of moles of solute R = Ideal Gas Constant
In terms of molarity, π = MRT