Boling-Point Elevation
the boiling point of a solution will always be higher than the boiling point of the pure solvent it used to be as
shown in figure 11
the boiling-point elevation ( ) is defined as the boiling point of the solution ( ) minus the boiling point of
the pure solvent ( ):
=
since > , is always a positive quantity
the value of is proportional to the vapor-pressure lowering, and so it is also proportional to the molal
concentration of the solution:
= where: m is the molality of the solution
Kb is the molal boiling-point elevation constant (solvent)
Tb is the change in temperature
the unit of Kb is oC/m or oC kg/mol
the unit of molarity cant be used since the temperature of the solutions are not constant and molarity changes
with temperature
table 6 shows a list of molal boiling-point elevation constant (Kb) of several common liquids
Figure 11. A phase diagram showing the
boiling point and freezing point
of a pure liquid solvent and a
solution. It clearly shows that the
boiling point of a solution will
always be higher than that of the
pure solvent is used to be, and
the freezing point of a solution
will always be lower than that of
the pure solvent.
Table 6. Molal Boiling-Point Elevation (Kb) and Freezing-Point Depression (Kf) Constants of Several Common Liquids
Normal Freezing
Point (oC)
Kf (oC/m)
Normal Boiling
Point (oC)
Kb (oC/m)
1.86
100
0.52
5.5
5.12
80.1
2.53
117.3
1.99
78.4
1.22
Acetic acid, C2H4O2
16.6
3.90
117.9
2.93
Cyclohexane, C6H12
6.6
20.0
80.7
2.79
Carbon tetrachloride, CCl4
22.3
29.8
76.8
5.02
Chloroform, CHCl3
63.5
4.68
61.2
3.63
Carbon disulfide, CS2
111.5
3.83
46.2
2.34
Camphor, C10H16O
176.0
40.0
209.0
5.95
Phenol, C6H6O
43.0
7.27
182.0
3.56
116.2
1.79
34.5
2.16
Solvent
Water, H2O
Benzene, C6H6
Ethanol, C2H5OH
Diethyl ether, (C2H5)2O
40
Freezing-Point Depression
the freezing point of a solution will always be lower than the freezing point of the pure solvent it used to be as
shown in figure 11
the freezing-point depression ( ) is defined as the freezing point of the solvent ( ) minus the freezing point
of the solution ( ):
=
since > , is always a positive quantity
the value of is proportional to the vapor-pressure lowering, and so it is also proportional to the molal
concentration of the solution:
=
where: m is the molality of the solution
Kf is the molal freezing-point depression constant
(solvent)
Tf is the change in temperature
the unit of Kf is oC/m or oC kg/mol
the unit of molarity cant be used since the temperature of the solutions are not constant and molarity changes
with temperature
table 6 shows a list of molal freezing-point depression constant (Kf) of several common liquids
Example 1:
Ethylene glycol is a common antifreeze. It is water soluble and fairly non-volatile (boiling point = 197oC). Calculate the
freezing point and boiling point of a solution containing 651.0 g of this substance in 2,505.0 g of water. The molar mass
of ethylene glycol is 62.01 g.
Given:
mass of solute = 651.0 g
Solution:
mass of solvent = 2,505.0 g
o
Kf of solvent = 1.86 C/m
Kb of solvent = 0.52oC/m
molar mass of solute = 62.01 g
o
Step 1: convert mass of
solute to mole
651.0
62.01
= 10.50
Step 2: solve for the
molality
Step 3: solve for the
freezing-point
depression
= = (1.86 )(4.19 )
= 7.79
10.50
2.505
= 4.19
freezing point of water = 0 C
boiling point of water = 100oC
Step 4: determine the freezing
point of the solution,
which should be lower
than the pure solvent
Step 5: solve for the
boiling-point
elevation
Step 6: determine the boiling
point of the solution,
which should be higher
than the pure solvent
= = 0 7.79
= .
= = (0.52 )(4.19 )
= 2.18
= + = 100 + 2.18
= .
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