Describe the effect of concentration on the colligative properties of Solution.

Colligative Properties

The properties of a solution are different from those of either the pure solute(s) or
solvent. Many solution properties are dependent upon the chemical identity of the
solute. Compared to pure water, a solution of hydrogen chloride is more acidic, a
solution of ammonia is more basic, a solution of sodium chloride is more dense, and a
solution of sucrose is more viscous. There are a few solution properties, however, that
depend only upon the total concentration of solute species, regardless of their
identities. These colligative properties include vapor pressure lowering, boiling point
elevation, freezing point depression, and osmotic pressure.

There are 4 main colligative properties of solution

1. Vapor pressure lowering:

o When a non-volatile solute is added to a solvent, the vapor pressure of the
solvent decreases. This is because the presence of the solute reduces the
number of solvent molecules that can escape into the gas phase, leading to a
lower vapor pressure.
o An example of this is the addition of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) to the radiator
water in a car. The antifreeze lowers the vapor pressure of the water, preventing
it from boiling or evaporating at normal operating temperatures, thus helping to
prevent the engine from overheating.

2. Boiling point elevation:

o Adding a non-volatile solute to a solvent raises the boiling point of the solvent.
This happens because the presence of the solute reduces the vapor pressure of
the solvent, requiring a higher temperature to reach the new, lower vapor
pressure.
o When salt is added to water, such as when cooking pasta, the boiling point of the
water increases. This means that the water needs to reach a higher temperature
to boil, allowing the pasta to cook at a higher temperature than it would in pure
water.

3. Freezing point depression:

o Introducing a non-volatile solute into a solvent lowers the freezing point of the
solvent. This occurs because the solute disrupts the formation of the solvent's
 crystal lattice structure, requiring a lower temperature to freeze the solution
compared to the pure solvent.
o Road salt is used to melt ice on roads in winter. The salt lowers the freezing point
of the ice, causing it to melt at a lower temperature than 0°C, thus preventing
the formation of hazardous ice on the roads.

4. Osmotic pressure:
o Osmotic pressure is the pressure that must be applied to a solution to prevent
the inward flow of water across a semipermeable membrane. It is directly
proportional to the concentration of solute particles in the solution.
o In biological systems, osmotic pressure plays a crucial role in processes such as
kidney function. For instance, in dialysis, a process used to filter waste and
excess water from the blood, osmotic pressure gradients help facilitate the
movement of solutes and water across a semipermeable membrane.

The effect of concentration on the colligative properties of Solution

1. Vapor Pressure Lowering:

o The lowering of vapor pressure is directly proportional to the concentration of the
solute. Higher solute concentrations result in a greater reduction in vapor
pressure. This means that as the solute concentration increases, the tendency of
the solvent to evaporate decreases.
2. Boiling Point Elevation:
o The increase in boiling point is directly proportional to the concentration of the
solute. As the solute concentration increases, the boiling point of the solution
increases proportionally. This means that a solution with a higher concentration of
solute will require a higher temperature to boil compared to a more dilute
solution.
3. Freezing Point Depression:
o The decrease in freezing point is directly proportional to the concentration of the
solute. Higher solute concentrations lead to a greater depression of the freezing
point. Consequently, a solution with a higher solute concentration will need to be
cooled to a lower temperature in order to freeze compared to a solution with a
lower solute concentration.
4. Osmotic Pressure:
o Osmotic pressure is directly proportional to the concentration of the solute. As the
solute concentration increases, the osmotic pressure of the solution also increases.
This means that a higher concentration of solute will exert a greater osmotic
pressure, resulting in a stronger tendency for solvent molecules to move across a
semipermeable membrane to equalize the concentration.