Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.
🔑Concepts
Abnormal molecular mass is observed when the solute undergoes association or dissociation in the solvent, leading to a change in the total number of particles.
Dissociation: When a solute (usually electrolytes like or ) breaks into ions, the number of particles increases. This results in a higher observed colligative property and a lower observed molecular mass than the theoretical value ().
Association: When solute molecules (like carboxylic acids in benzene) join to form dimers or polymers, the number of particles decreases. This results in a lower observed colligative property and a higher observed molecular mass than the theoretical value ().
The Van't Hoff Factor () is defined as the ratio of the observed value of a colligative property to the calculated (theoretical) value.
Colligative properties depend on the number of solute particles. To account for association or dissociation, the standard equations must be multiplied by the factor .
📐Formulae
💡Examples
Problem 1:
A aqueous solution of was found to freeze at . Calculate the Van't Hoff factor and the degree of dissociation of at this concentration. ( for , Molar mass of )
Solution:
- Molality () = .
- Calculated .
- Observed .
- .
- For , .
- .
Explanation:
Since is an electrolyte, it dissociates. The experimental freezing point depression is nearly double the calculated value because the number of particles almost doubles, resulting in and dissociation.
Problem 2:
Acetic acid () undergoes dimerization in benzene. If the observed molar mass is , calculate the Van't Hoff factor (). (Normal molar mass of )
Solution:
Explanation:
In non-polar solvents like benzene, acetic acid forms hydrogen-bonded dimers (). This reduces the particle count, making and the observed molecular mass higher than the actual molar mass.