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The freezing point of a solution of an electrolyte

The concentration of ions in seawater is approximately the same as that in a solution containing 4.2 g of NaCl dissolved in 125 g of water. Assume that each of the ions in the NaCl solution has the same effect on the freezing point of water as a nonelectrolyte molecule, and determine the freezing temperature the solution (which is approximately equal to the freezing temperature of seawater).

Solution

We can solve this problem using the following series of steps.

This is a diagram with six boxes oriented horizontally and linked together with arrows numbered 1 to 5 pointing from each box in succession to the next one to the right. The first box is labeled, “Mass of N a C l.” Arrow 1 points from this box to a second box labeled, “Moles of N a C l.” Arrow 2 points from this box to to a third box labeled, Moles of ions.” Arrow labeled 3 points from this box to a fourth box labeled, “Molality of solution.” Arrow 4 points to a fifth box labeled, “Change in freezing point.” Arrow 5 points to a sixth box labeled, “New freezing point.”
  1. Convert from grams to moles of NaCl using the molar mass of NaCl in the unit conversion factor.
    Result: 0.072 mol NaCl
  2. Determine the number of moles of ions present in the solution using the number of moles of ions in 1 mole of NaCl as the conversion factor (2 mol ions/1 mol NaCl).
    Result: 0.14 mol ions
  3. Determine the molality of the ions in the solution from the number of moles of ions and the mass of solvent, in kilograms.
    Result: 1.1 m
  4. Use the direct proportionality between the change in freezing point and molal concentration to determine how much the freezing point changes.
    Result: 2.0 °C
  5. Determine the new freezing point from the freezing point of the pure solvent and the change.
    Result: −2.0 °C
    Check each result as a self-assessment.

Check your learning

Assume that each of the ions in calcium chloride, CaCl 2 , has the same effect on the freezing point of water as a nonelectrolyte molecule. Calculate the freezing point of a solution of 0.724 g of CaCl 2 in 175 g of water.

Answer:

−0.208 °C

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Assuming complete dissociation, a 1.0 m aqueous solution of NaCl contains 1.0 mole of ions (1.0 mol Na + and 1.0 mol Cl ) per each kilogram of water, and its freezing point depression is expected to be

Δ T f = 2.0 mol ions/kg water × 1.86 ° C kg water/mol ion = 3.7 ° C .

When this solution is actually prepared and its freezing point depression measured, however, a value of 3.4 °C is obtained. Similar discrepancies are observed for other ionic compounds, and the differences between the measured and expected colligative property values typically become more significant as solute concentrations increase. These observations suggest that the ions of sodium chloride (and other strong electrolytes) are not completely dissociated in solution.

To account for this and avoid the errors accompanying the assumption of total dissociation, an experimentally measured parameter named in honor of Nobel Prize-winning German chemist Jacobus Henricus van’t Hoff is used. The van’t Hoff factor ( i )    is defined as the ratio of solute particles in solution to the number of formula units dissolved:

i = moles of particles in solution moles of formula units dissolved

Values for measured van’t Hoff factors for several solutes, along with predicted values assuming complete dissociation, are shown in [link] .

Expected and Observed van’t Hoff Factors for Several 0.050 m Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions
Electrolyte Particles in Solution i (Predicted) i (Measured)
HCl H + , Cl 2 1.9
NaCl Na + , Cl 2 1.9
MgSO 4 Mg 2+ , SO 4 2− 2 1.3
MgCl 2 Mg 2+ , 2Cl 3 2.7
FeCl 3 Fe 3+ , 3Cl 4 3.4
glucose A nonelectrolyte shown for comparison. C 12 H 22 O 11 1 1.0

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Source:  OpenStax, Chemistry. OpenStax CNX. May 20, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11760/1.9
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