Helpful Hints

Colligative properties are properties that depend on the number of particles dissolved in a
solution, not on the type of particle. Some common examples are:
-

vapor pressure lowering

freezing point depression
boiling point elevation
osmotic pressure

Since colligative properties depend on the number of dissolved particles, the effect of
electrolytes is different than the effect of nonelectrolytes. Electrolytes result in a larger number
of particles when dissolved in solution; therefore have a greater effect on colligative properties.
Each of the above properties can be estimated based on the amount of dissolved solute using the
following equations:
vapor pressure with nonvolatile nonelectrolyte solute
!!"#$%&"' ! "!"#()'% !"!"#()'%
Psolution = vapor pressure of solution
Xsolvent = mole fraction of solvent
o
P solvent = vapor pressure of pure solvent
vapor pressure with volatile nonelectrolyte solute
!%"%*# ! !+ # !, ! #+ !"+ # #, !",
change in freezing point with nonelectrolyte solute
$$- ! %&'(')*+ % ,Tf = change in freezing point
Kf = freezing point depression constant
change in boiling point with nonelectrolyte solute
$$. ! %&'(')*+ % ,.
Tb = change in boiling point
Kb = boiling point elevation constant
osmotic pressure with nonelectrolyte solute
! ! "#$%&'() " *+!

- ! ./0.123 567//867
/!012
9 ! 2:7;< =;/ 3.>/1;>1 ! &'&()&* 234!5
+ ! 170576;1867

For electrolyte solutions the vant Hoff factor (i) must be considered:
2!

0.<7/ .? 5;6123<7/ 2> /.<812.>

0.<7/ .? ?.608<; 8>21/ :2//.<@7:

The modified equations for solutions with electrolyte solutes are as follows:

!!"#$%&"' !

A!"#()'%
!"
A!"#()'% # ) , A!"#$%) !"#()'%

$$- ! ) , %&'(')*+ , ,-

$$. ! ) , %&'(')*+ , ,.

! ! ' # "#$%&'() # *+!

!