COLLIGATIVE PROPERTY: FREEZING POINT DEPRESSION AND MOLAR MASS
Elsbeth Nicole P. Villanueva
BS Chemical Engineering
Xavier University
Abstract Freezing point depression is a
colligative property observed in solutions that
results from the introduction of solute molecules
to a solvent.Moles and Molar Mass The mole is
the "counting unit" used by chemists to indicate
the number of atoms, ions, molecules, or
formula units present in a particular chemical
sample.
The experiment aims to determine the molar
mass of an unknown solid of freezing point
depression and to determine the identity of an
unknown solid through molar mass
measurements.The average freezing point
calculated is 78.95082256 .The freezing
point of pure Naphthalene is being subtracted
with the freezing point of Naphthalene with the
unknown solid resulted to the freezing point
depression of 0.4682686721 .The calculated
value of the molar mass of the unknown solid
is211.2229513 .Out of the five possible
identities of the unknown solid, the molar mass
closest to the experimental value of the molar
mass of unknown solid (211.2229513 ) is the
molar mass of Dibromobenzene (235.90)
and the percent error obtained is 10.46%.
Keywords: Freezing Point Depression,
Colligative Property, Naphthalene, Molar
Mass.
I. INTRODUCTION
Freezing point depression is a colligative
property observed in solutions that results from
the introduction of solute molecules to a solvent.
Rixs G. Itum
BS Chemical Engineering
Xavier University
The freezing points of solutions are all lower
than that of the pure solvent and are directly
proportional to the molality of the solute.
tf=Tf(solvent)Tf(solution)= Kf m
Where tf is the freezing point
depression, Tf (solution) is the freezing point of
the solution, TfTf (solvent) is the freezing point
of the solvent, Kf is the freezing point depression
constant, and m is the molality. The freezing
point of the solvent in a solution will be less
than the freezing point of the pure solvent
whether the solution contains a non-volatile
solute or a volatile solute.
However, for simplicity, only non-
volatile solutes will be considered here.
Experimentally, we know that the change in
freezing point of the solvent in a solution from
that of the pure solvent is directly proportional
to the molal concentration of the solute:
T = Kfm
Where: T is the change in freezing point of
the solvent, Kf is the molal freezing point
depression constant, and m is the molal
concentration of the solute in the solution. Note
that the molal freezing point depression
constant, Kf, has a specific value depending on
the identity of the solvent. [1]
Moles and Molar Mass The mole is the
"counting unit" used by chemists to indicate the
number of atoms, ions, molecules, or formula
units present in a particular chemical sample.
The mole is similar to other counting units that
you've used before....pair (2), dozen (12), and
gross (144). One mole of a compound contains
Avogadro's number (6.022 x 1023) of molecules
(molecular compound) or formula units (ionic
compound). The molar mass of a compound tells
you the mass of 1 mole of that substance. [2]
II. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
15 to 20 grams of naphthalene was added to
a large test tube that was weighed beforehand.
The naphthalene was then subjected to water
bath at the heat of 85C and a stopper and a
thermometer was added at the time the
naphthalene was melted. At the time the
naphthalene was melted immediately place it
into wide-mouthed bottle with some paper
towels at the bottom. Record temperature for
every 30 seconds. Stir naphthalene. Allow
naphthalene to cool when temperature is
constant. Plot time vs. temperature to get the
freezing point of the pure naphthalene.
For the determination of molar mass of the
unknown solid. Weigh the given unknown solid
sample and add it to naphthalene in the test tube.
Replace stopper and stir the solution gently until
unknown solid dissolves. Remove test tube in
heat and place it into the wide-mouthed bottle
with paper towels in the bottom. Record
temperature for every 30 seconds. Stir and allow
it to cool when temperature is constant. Plot time
vs. temperature to get the freezing point of the
unknown solid and naphthalene.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The first part of the experiment is the
interpolation of the freezing points given with
1 2 2 2
the formula of = .Table 1 shows
1 2
the freezing point of Naphthalene with the
unknown solid. The average freezing point
calculated is 78.95082256 .
Table 1: Freezing point of naphthalene with
unknown solid
Trial Freezing point
1 78.83989829 C
2 79.06174743 C
Freezing point depression has been
determined using the formula = .
The freezing point of pure Naphthalene is being
subtracted with the freezing point of
Naphthalene with the unknown solid resulted to
the freezing point depression
of 0.4682686721 .
The third and last part is the calculation of the
molar mass of the unknown solid. Given with
the cryoscopic constant of Naphthalene, mass of
solute, mass of solvent and the freezing point
depression of the solution, the molar mass of the
unknown solid can be calculated. The calculated
value of the molar mass of the unknown solid
is211.2229513 . Table 2 shows the known
molar masses of the possible identity of the
unknown solid.
Table 2: Known molar masses of possible
identity of the unknown solid
Compound Molar mass (g/mol)
Dichlorobenzene 146.998
Dibromobenzene 235.90
Anthracene 178.234
Benzophenone 186.222
Sulfur 32.0650
Identification of the unknown solid is the last
part of the experiment. Out of the five possible
identities of the unknown solid, the molar mass
closest to the experimental value of the molar
mass of unknown solid (211.2229513 ) is the
 1 2 2 2
molar mass of Dibromobenzene (235.90 ) and =

the percent error obtained is 10.46%. 1 2

Pure Napthalene:
At:
IV. ERROR ANALYSIS m1 = -0.1431 b1: 80.04
m2 = -0.1136 b2: 79.912
Some errors that occur in the experiment is that
we failed to immediately transfer the test tube in (0.1431)(79.912) (0.1136)(80.04)
the beaker which causes some inaccuracy of the =
(0.1431) (0.1136)
results in the temperature determination. . The = 79.41909153
inaccuracy of the apparatus such as the
analytical balance is also a factor to the errors in
Napthalene with Unknown solid:
this experiment.
Trial 1:
At:
m1: -4.1488 b1:89.675
V. CONCLUSION
m2: -0.0793 b2:79.047
The main objective of the experiment is to
determine the freezing point of pure
naphthalene. Its approximete freezing point is (4.1488)(79.047) (0.0793)(89.675)
=
78.95 and the average freezing point of the (4.1488) ( 0.0793)
mixture of naphthalene with unknown solid = 78.83989829
is78.95 C.with these we can then identify the
the freezing point depression of the compound Table 1: Freezing point of naphthalene
and it freezing point depression is 0.4683 C. with unknown solid
The closest possible identity of the unknown Trial Freezing point
solid is dibromobenzene. The experimental 1 78.83989829 C
value of the molar is 211.22 g/mol with a 2 79.06174743 C
percent error of 10.46%.
Average of Trial 1 and 2:
REFERENCES 78.83989829 + 79.06174743
=
2
[1] http://hyperphysics.phy- = 78.95082256 C
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Chemical/meltpt.html#c1
[2]
https://www.uwplatt.edu/~cornettc/Colligative% B. Freezing Point Depression
2520properties.DOC
=
=
= 79.41909153
APPENDICES 78.95082256
= 0.4682686721
A. Interpolation of Freezing points
C. Molar mass of unknown solid
 ()()
= ( ) 1000
( )()

(6.80 )(0.220 )
= ( ) 1000
(0.4682686721)(15.125)

= 211.2229513

D. Percent errors against known molar
masses

Table 2: Known molar masses of

possible identity of the unknown solid
Molar mass
Compound
(g/mol)
Dichlorobenzene 146.998
Dibromobenzene 235.90
Anthracene 178.234
Benzophenone 186.222
Sulfur 32.0650

% = | |

100

Percent error against Dibromobenzene:

211.2229513 235.90
% = | |
235.90
100