Q.1.00 g of a non-electrolyte solute dissolved in 50 g of benzene lowered the freezing point of benzene by 0.40 K. The freezing point depression constant of benzene is 5.12 K kg mol−1. Find the molar mass of the solute.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Boiling Point Elevation
Boiling Point Elevation — From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you're cooking pasta. You add salt to the water, and the water takes longer to boil. That's not your imagination — it's a real physical effect. The salt has raised the boiling point of the water. Pure water boils at 100°C at sea level, but salt water needs a slightly higher temperature to boil. That's boiling point elevation in action.
Why does this happen?
To understand why, you need to think about what boiling actually is. Boiling occurs when the vapour pressure of the liquid equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Vapour pressure is the pressure exerted by molecules escaping from the liquid surface into the gas phase.
When you dissolve a non-volatile solute (like salt, which doesn't evaporate) in a solvent (like water), something interesting happens at the surface. Some of the surface molecules are now solute particles — they don't escape into the vapour. This means fewer solvent molecules can leave the liquid per second. The result? The vapour pressure of the solution is lower than that of the pure solvent at the same temperature.
Now, to make this reduced vapour pressure equal to the atmospheric pressure (so the liquid can boil), you need to raise the temperature. That extra heat gives the remaining solvent molecules enough energy to overcome the solute's interference and produce the required vapour pressure.
The solute itself doesn't boil away — it stays behind. That's why we call it a non-volatile solute. If the solute were volatile (like alcohol), the story changes.
The precise statement
Boiling point elevation is the increase in the boiling point of a solvent when a non-volatile solute is dissolved in it. The boiling point of the solution is always higher than that of the pure solvent.
The elevation ΔTb is given by:
ΔTb=Tb(solution)−Tb(pure solvent)
And it depends only on the number of solute particles, not on their chemical identity (for dilute solutions). This is a colligative property — a property that depends on the concentration of particles, not their nature.
ΔTb=Kb⋅m
Where:
- ΔTb = boiling point elevation (in °C or K)
- Kb = ebullioscopic constant of the solvent (a fixed value for each solvent)
- m = molality of the solution (moles of solute per kg of solvent)
What is Kb?
The ebullioscopic constant Kb is a property of the pure solvent. It tells you how much the boiling point rises per unit molal concentration. For water, Kb=0.512°C kg mol−1. So a 1 molal aqueous solution (1 mole of solute per kg of water) boils at 100.512°C.
For quick calculations: ΔTb∝m. Double the molality, double the elevation. But this works only for dilute solutions — at high concentrations, interactions between solute particles break the linearity.
What about electrolytes?
If the solute dissociates into ions (like NaCl → Na⁺ + Cl⁻), the number of particles increases. One mole of NaCl gives two moles of particles in solution. So the effective concentration is higher. We account for this using the van't Hoff factor i:
ΔTb=i⋅Kb⋅m
For NaCl, i≈2 (in dilute solutions). For sugar (which doesn't dissociate), i=1. …
Why this formula?
Boiling Point Elevation: Why the Formula Holds
Let's build this from first principles — understanding the why before the what.
What Happens at the Boiling Point?
At the boiling point, a liquid's vapor pressure equals the external atmospheric pressure. For a pure solvent, this happens at a fixed temperature (e.g., 100°C for water at 1 atm).
When you add a non-volatile solute (like salt or sugar), the solute particles occupy space at the liquid surface, reducing the number of solvent molecules that can escape into vapor. This lowers the vapor pressure of the solution compared to the pure solvent.
The Key Consequence
Since vapor pressure is now lower, the solution must be heated to a higher temperature to make its vapor pressure reach atmospheric pressure again. That's the boiling point elevation.
The Formula and Its Derivation
The boiling point elevation ΔTb is given by:
ΔTb=Kb⋅m
where:
- ΔTb=Tb(solution)−Tb(pure solvent)
- Kb = ebullioscopic constant (depends only on the solvent)
- m = molality of the solution (moles of solute per kg of solvent)
Why Molality and Not Molarity?
Molality is temperature-independent — it doesn't change when the solution is heated. Molarity (moles per liter) changes because volume expands with temperature. Since we're measuring a temperature change, we need a concentration unit that stays fixed.
The Reasoning Behind Kb
The constant Kb comes from thermodynamics. For a dilute solution, the vapor pressure lowering follows Raoult's Law:
Psolution=xsolvent⋅Psolvent0
where xsolvent is the mole fraction of solvent and Psolvent0 is the pure solvent's vapor pressure.
Using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation (which relates vapor pressure to temperature) and Raoult's Law, one can derive:
Kb=1000⋅ΔHvapRTb2
where:
- R = gas constant (8.314 J/mol·K)
- Tb = boiling point of pure solvent (in Kelvin)
- ΔHvap = molar enthalpy of vaporization (J/mol)
- The factor 1000 converts grams to kg (since molality uses kg of solvent)
What This Tells Us
- Kb is a property of the solvent alone — it doesn't depend on the solute.
- Solvents with higher boiling points or lower heats of vaporization have larger Kb values (greater elevation per molal concentration).
--- …
Concept: Freezing Point Depression (colligative property).
Step 1 — Write the formula
For a non-electrolyte, ΔTf=Kf⋅m, where m is molality (mol solute per kg solvent).
Step 2 — Express molality in terms of molar mass
m=kg of solventmoles of solute=Wkgw/M,
with w=1.00 g, W=50 g=0.050 kg, and M = molar mass (g/mol).
Step 3 — Substitute and solve
ΔTf=Kf⋅M⋅Wkgw …
Using the freezing point depression formula ΔTf=Kf⋅m, we first find the molality from the given data, then use the definition of molality to solve for the molar mass of the solute. The molar mass comes out to be 256 g/mol.
Why this works: The idea behind boiling point elevation (and freezing point depression)
When you dissolve a non-volatile solute in a solvent, the solvent's freezing point drops. This happens because the solute particles disrupt the orderly arrangement needed for the solvent to freeze — the liquid has to be cooled further before solid forms. The key relationship is beautifully simple: the depression ΔTf is directly proportional to the molality of the solution, not the concentration by mass or volume. That's why we use the formula:
ΔTf=Kf⋅m
where Kf is the cryoscopic constant (freezing point depression constant) of the solvent, and m is the molality of the solution in mol/kg.
The problem gives us ΔTf, Kf, the mass of solute, and the mass of solvent. Our job is to find the molar mass M of the solute. Since molality itself depends on molar mass, we can set up an equation and solve.
Step-by-step solution
1. Write down what we know
- Mass of solute, wB=1.00 g
- Mass of solvent (benzene), wA=50 g=0.050 kg (always convert to kg for molality)
- Freezing point depression, ΔTf=0.40 K
- Cryoscopic constant of benzene, Kf=5.12 K kg mol−1
We need the molar mass of the solute, MB (in g/mol).
2. Express molality in terms of molar mass
Molality m is moles of solute per kg of solvent:
m=mass of solvent (kg)moles of solute=wA (in kg)wB/MB
So:
m=0.050 kg1.00 g/MB=0.050⋅MB1.00=MB20 mol/kg
3. Plug into the freezing point depression equation
ΔTf=Kf⋅m
Substitute: …
Method: Freezing Point Depression (Cryoscopy)
This is a colligative property problem — the freezing point depression depends only on the number of solute particles, not their identity.
Step 1: Recall the formula
The freezing point depression is given by:
ΔTf=Kf⋅m
Where:
- ΔTf = depression in freezing point (given: 0.40 K)
- Kf = cryoscopic constant (given: 5.12 K kg mol−1)
- m = molality of the solution (mol solute per kg solvent)
Step 2: Find the molality
Rearrange to solve for molality:
m=KfΔTf=5.120.40
m=0.078125 mol kg−1
Step 3: Relate molality to molar mass
Molality is defined as:
m=mass of solvent in kgmoles of solute
Let M = molar mass of solute (g mol−1).
Moles of solute = M1.00 g
Mass of solvent = 50 g=0.050 kg …
Here are the common mistakes students make on this exact problem, along with how to avoid each one.
1. Forgetting to Convert Mass of Solvent from Grams to Kilograms
The Mistake:
Using 50g directly in the formula instead of converting to 0.050kg.
Why it happens:
The cryoscopic constant Kf has units of K kg mol−1, so the solvent mass must be in kilograms.
How to avoid:
Always write the formula with units first:
ΔTf=Kf⋅m=Kf⋅mass of solvent (kg)nsolute
Then substitute:
0.40=5.12⋅0.050n
Key check: If your answer is off by a factor of 1000, this is likely the error.
2. Confusing Freezing Point Depression with Boiling Point Elevation
The Mistake:
Using Kb (boiling point elevation constant) instead of Kf (freezing point depression constant).
Why it happens:
The problem mentions "lowered the freezing point" but students sometimes misread and apply the boiling point formula.
How to avoid:
- Freezing point depression: ΔTf=Kf⋅m
- Boiling point elevation: ΔTb=Kb⋅m
The problem gives Kf=5.12K kg mol−1, so use that.
3. Using the Wrong Formula for Molar Mass
The Mistake:
Plugging numbers into M=ΔTf⋅wsolventKf⋅wsolute without converting solvent mass to kg.
How to avoid:
Use the derived formula carefully:
M=ΔTf⋅wsolvent (in grams)1000⋅Kf⋅wsolute
Here, wsolvent is in grams, and the factor 1000 converts it to kg.
Correct substitution:
M=0.40×501000×5.12×1.00=205120=256g mol−1
4. Forgetting the "Non-Electrolyte" Condition
The Mistake:
Adding a van't Hoff factor i (like i=2 for NaCl) when the solute is non-electrolyte.
Why it happens:
Students overcomplicate — they see "solute" and assume dissociation. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 21 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-AN1 markMCQQ.The value of Kf (in Kkgmol−1) of a solvent (X) is four times the value of its Kb. 2g of a non-volatile, non-electrolytic solute A is dissolved in 200 g of solvent X. The ΔTb of resultant solution is YK. 4g of A is dissolved in 200 g of X and the ΔTf of resultant solution is ZK. What is the ratio of Y and Z? (Molar mass of A = 100 gmol−1) (A) 1 : 2 (B) 1 : 4 (C) 1 : 8 (D) 1 : 16
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using ΔT=K× molality for both cases and Kf=4Kb, the ratio Y:Z works out to 1:8.
Concept and Intuition
Both elevation of boiling point and depression of freezing point are colligative properties proportional to molality: ΔTb=Kbm and ΔTf=Kfm. Since the same solute A (molar mass 100) is used in the same mass of the same solvent X in both cases, only the mass of solute taken and the relevant constant (Kb vs Kf) differ between the two scenarios.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Case 1 (ΔTb=Y): moles of A =1002=0.02 mol; mass of solvent =0.2 kg. Molality m1=0.20.02=0.1 mol/kg.
Y=Kb×0.1
- Case 2 (ΔTf=Z): moles of A =1004=0.04 mol; mass of solvent =0.2 kg. Molality m2=0.20.04=0.2 mol/kg. Z=Kf×0.2 …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.An aqueous solution of a non-volatile and non-electrolytic solute boils at 100.5°C. What will be the freezing point of the same solution? (Given Kb=0.512 K kg mol−1 and Kf=1.86 K kg mol−1) (A) −2.816 °C (B) −1.816 °C (C) −0.908 °C (D) −3.632 °C
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests linking boiling-point elevation to freezing-point depression via a common molality; the freezing point works out to −1.816°C.
Concept and Intuition
For a dilute solution of a non-volatile, non-electrolyte solute, both the elevation in boiling point and the depression in freezing point are colligative properties proportional to the same molality of the solute: ΔTb=Kbm and ΔTf=Kfm. Given one property, we can back out the molality and then predict the other.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Elevation in boiling point: ΔTb=100.5°C−100°C=0.5 K.
- Find molality from ΔTb=Kbm: m=KbΔTb=0.5120.5≈0.9766 molkg−1.
- Find depression in freezing point: ΔTf=Kfm=1.86×0.9766≈1.8164 K. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.The boiling point of 1M aqueous solution of KCl (85% dissociation) having density 1.04 gmL−1 is (Given: Kb(H2O)=0.52 Kkgmol−1, molar mass of KCl=74.5 gmol−1) (A) 100.096°C (B) 100.996°C (C) 100.896°C (D) 100.796°C
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests boiling-point elevation with a dissociating electrolyte, requiring first converting molarity to molality via the given density. The boiling point comes out to 100.996 °C.
Concept and Intuition
Boiling point elevation depends on molality (not molarity), and for an electrolyte that partially dissociates, the van't Hoff factor i accounts for the actual number of particles in solution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Take 1 litre (1000 mL) of the 1M KCl solution as the basis. Moles of KCl =1 mol.
- Mass of the whole solution =density×volume=1.04 g/mL×1000 mL=1040 g.
- Mass of solute (KCl) =1 mol×74.5 g/mol=74.5 g.
- Mass of solvent (water) =1040−74.5=965.5 g=0.9655 kg.
- Molality m=kg solventmoles solute=0.96551≈1.0357 molkg−1.
- KCl dissociates as KCl→K++Cl−, so n=2 ions per formula unit. With degree of dissociation α=0.85: van't Hoff factor i=1+α(n−1)=1+0.85(2−1)=1.85. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.At 300 K, x moles of CaCl2 (i=2.5 ; molar mass =111 g mol−1) is dissolved in 2.5 L of water. The osmotic pressure of resultant solution is 0.75 atm. What is ΔTb of solution? (density of water =1 g mL−1 ; Kb=0.52 K kg mol−1 ; R=0.08 L atm mol−1K−1) (A) 0.016 K (B) 0.032 K (C) 0.048 K (D) 0.064 K
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using the osmotic-pressure data to find the molar concentration, then the molality, and finally applying ΔTb=iKbm gives ΔTb≈0.016 K.
Concept and Intuition
Both osmotic pressure and boiling-point elevation are colligative properties that depend on the effective number of particles in solution (captured by the van't Hoff factor i). We first use the osmotic pressure relation π=iCRT to back out the molar concentration C of CaCl2, convert that to molality using the mass of water given, and then apply the boiling-point elevation formula.
Step-by-Step Solution
- From π=iCRT: C=iRTπ=2.5×0.08×3000.75=600.75=0.0125 mol L−1.
- Moles of CaCl2, x=C×V=0.0125×2.5 L=0.03125 mol.
- Mass of water (solvent) =2.5 L×1000 g/L (density=1 g/mL)=2500 g=2.5 kg.
- Molality, m=kg of solventx=2.50.03125=0.0125 mol kg−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.A solution of urea in water has a boiling point of 100.18 °C. What is the freezing point of the same solution, if Kf and Kb of water are 1.86 and 0.52 K kg mol−1, respectively ? (Boiling point of water = 100 °C) (A) −0.34 ∘C (B) −0.22 ∘C (C) −0.64 ∘C (D) −0.32 ∘C
›Reveal solutionSolution
This links two colligative properties (boiling point elevation and freezing point depression) through the common molality of the solution.
Concept and Intuition
Both boiling-point elevation and freezing-point depression are colligative properties proportional to the same molality of solute particles: ΔTb=Kbm and ΔTf=Kfm. Given one, we can find the molality and then use it to get the other.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Boiling point elevation: ΔTb=100.18−100=0.18∘C.
- Molality from ΔTb=Kbm: m=KbΔTb=0.520.18=0.3462 mol/kg.
- Freezing point depression: ΔTf=Kfm=1.86×0.3462=0.6439∘C≈0.64∘C. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.The molal depression constant of water (Kf) is 1.86 Kkgmol−1. What is the approximate ΔfusH (in kJmol−1) of water if it freezes at 273 K? (A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 9 (D) 12
›Reveal solutionSolution
The cryoscopic-constant formula relates Kf to the solvent's molar mass, freezing point, and molar enthalpy of fusion; solving gives ΔfusH≈6 kJ/mol for water.
Concept and Intuition
The molal depression constant Kf of a solvent is fundamentally derived from its freezing point and its enthalpy of fusion (the energy needed to melt the solid), via the thermodynamic relation:
Kf=1000ΔfusHRTf2M
where M is the solvent's molar mass (g/mol), Tf its freezing point (K), and ΔfusH its molar enthalpy of fusion (J/mol).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rearranging for ΔfusH: ΔfusH=1000KfRTf2M.
- Substitute R=8.314 Jmol−1K−1, Tf=273 K, M=18 g/mol, Kf=1.86 Kkgmol−1.
- Tf2=74529. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-AN1 markMCQQ.A non-volatile solute is dissolved in water. The ΔTb of resultant solution is 0.052 K. What is the freezing point of the solution (in K)? (Kb of water = 0.52 K kg mol−1; Kf of water = 1.86 K kg mol−1; Freezing point of water = 273 K) (A) 272.628 (B) 273.186 (C) 273.000 (D) 272.814
›Reveal solutionSolution
From the boiling-point elevation, the molality is found (0.1 mol/kg), and then the SAME molality is used with Kf to get the freezing-point depression, giving a freezing point of 272.814 K.
Concept and Intuition
Both boiling-point elevation and freezing-point depression are colligative properties governed by the same solution molality — ΔTb = Kb·m and ΔTf = Kf·m. Since molality doesn't change, we can find it from one property and use it to compute the other.
Step-by-Step Solution
- ΔTb = Kb·m → m = ΔTb/Kb = 0.052 / 0.52 = 0.1 mol/kg.
- ΔTf = Kf·m = 1.86 × 0.1 = 0.186 K.
- Freezing point of solution = freezing point of pure water − ΔTf = 273 − 0.186 = 272.814 K. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.The following graph is obtained for vapour pressure (in atm) (on y-axis) and T (in K) (on x-axis) for aqueous urea solution and water. What is the boiling point (in K) of urea solution? (Atmospheric pressure = 1 atm) [FIGURE] (two vapour-pressure-vs-temperature curves rising left to right; three horizontal dashed lines at y = 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 atm intersect the two curves; the resulting four intersection points are projected onto the x-axis at four temperatures labeled, in increasing order, T1,T2,T3,T4) (A) T1 (B) T2 (C) T3 (D) T4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The solution's boiling point is where its vapour-pressure curve meets P=1 atm, which is T3 on the graph (higher than pure water's T2, consistent with boiling point elevation).
Concept and Intuition
A liquid boils at the temperature where its vapour pressure equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Dissolving a non-volatile solute (urea) lowers the solution's vapour pressure at any given temperature (Raoult's law), which means the solution's vapour-pressure curve sits to the right of pure water's curve — it needs a HIGHER temperature to reach the same vapour pressure. This is exactly boiling point elevation, ΔTb>0.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Atmospheric pressure is given as 1 atm, so the boiling point of any liquid on this graph is where its curve crosses the horizontal y=1.00 line.
- The problem states the left curve (pure water, lower vapour pressure needed at lower temperature) crosses y=1.00 at T2.
- The right curve (urea solution, shifted to higher temperature for the same vapour pressure due to boiling point elevation) crosses y=1.00 at T3. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.The elevation in the boiling point of aqueous urea solution is 0.104 K. What is its ΔTf (in K) value? (for Water Kb=0.52 K kg mol−1, Kf=1.86 K kg mol−1) (A) 0.0186 (B) 0.186 (C) 0.372 (D) 0.0372
›Reveal solutionSolution
The same molality drives both boiling-point elevation and freezing-point depression; find m from ΔTb, then use it with Kf to get ΔTf.
Concept and Intuition
Both colligative properties depend on the same solution molality m: ΔTb=Kbm and ΔTf=Kfm. Since urea is a non-electrolyte (no dissociation), the molality computed from one property applies directly to the other.
Step-by-Step Solution
- m=KbΔTb=0.520.104=0.2 mol/kg. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.What is the boiling point of solution of 0.1m KCl? Kb of water is 0.52 K kg mol−1. (α=100%) (water boil at 373 K) (A) 100.104 K (B) 373.104 K (C) 273.104 K (D) 373.052 K
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since KCl fully dissociates into 2 ions per formula unit (van't Hoff factor i=2), the boiling point elevation is ΔTb=iKbm=0.104 K, giving a boiling point of 373.104 K.
Concept and Intuition
Boiling point elevation is a colligative property that depends on the total number of solute particles in solution, not just the number of formula units dissolved. For an electrolyte like KCl that dissociates completely into K+ and Cl− (α=100%), each mole of KCl produces 2 moles of particles, so the van't Hoff factor i=2 must be included in the elevation formula.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Formula: ΔTb=iKbm.
- Since KCl dissociates completely (α=100%) into 2 ions (K+ + Cl−), i=1+α(n−1)=1+1×(2−1)=2.
- Substitute: ΔTb=2×0.52×0.1=0.104 K. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-19-FN1 markMCQQ.What is the depression of freezing point, when mole fraction of non-electrolyte solute in aqueous solution is 0.01? (Kf of H2O=1.86 K kg mol−1) (A) 1.246 K (B) 1.380 K (C) 1.528 K (D) 1.043 K
›Reveal solutionSolution
Converting the given mole fraction of solute to molality and applying ΔTf=Kfm gives a freezing-point depression of about 1.043 K.
Concept and Intuition
Freezing point depression depends on molality, not mole fraction directly, so we must first convert. For a solution with total 1 mole (basis), if x2=0.01 is the solute's mole fraction, then n2=0.01 and n1=0.99 (moles of water). Molality is moles of solute per kg of solvent.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Take a basis of 1 total mole: n2=0.01 mol solute, n1=0.99 mol water.
- Mass of water (solvent): 0.99 mol×18 g/mol=17.82 g =0.01782 kg.
- Molality m=mass of solvent in kgn2=0.017820.01≈0.5612 mol/kg. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-04-FN1 markMCQQ.At T (K) x g of a non-volatile solid (molar mass 78 g mol−1) when added to 0.5 kg water, lowered its freezing point by 1.0∘C. What is x (in g)? (Kf of water at T(K) = 1.86 K Kg mol−1) (A) 10.48 (B) 20.96 (C) 41.92 (D) 5.24
›Reveal solutionSolution
Freezing-point depression gives the molality directly; converting molality to mass via the given molar mass gives x≈20.96g.
Concept and Intuition
Freezing-point depression is a colligative property: ΔTf=Kf×m, where m is the molality of the solute (moles of solute per kg of solvent) and Kf is the cryoscopic constant of the solvent. Since the solute is non-volatile and (implicitly) a non-electrolyte (no van't Hoff factor mentioned), we use this formula directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: ΔTf=1.0∘C, Kf=1.86 Kkgmol−1, mass of water =0.5 kg, molar mass of solute M=78 gmol−1.
- Find molality: m=KfΔTf=1.861.0=0.5376 molkg−1.
- Molality is moles of solute per kg solvent, so moles of solute n=m×(mass of water in kg)=0.5376×0.5=0.2688 mol. …
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