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ABSTRACT: Colligative properties are properties of solutions that depend on the concentration of
solute particles present and not on its nature. These properties are significant to many natural phenomena
and practical applications including antifreeze in cars, making ice cream and desalinating water. The
experiment aims to determine the molecular mass of the assigned solid by measuring the lowering it causes
on the freezing point of the solvent. It utilizes the freezing point depression property of solutions. The
determination of the molecular mass of the solute is done by the cryoscopic method where freezing point of
the solvent, naphthalene, is identified first in order to determine the freezing point depression used in
calculating for the molecular mass. As solute was added to the solvent, the resulting temperature of the
solutions were lower as compared with the pure solvent. The molecular mass was calculated using the
formula for the freezing point depression and was found to be 45.5 g/mol. The computed mass was a lot
lower as compared with the true value. However, it can be concluded that colligative properties can be used
in determining a solid’s molecular mass.
KEYWORDS: Cryoscopic constant, Colligative properties, Molality, Freezing point depression
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INTRODUCTION
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boiling point elevation. During winter, it prevents the liquid in the radiator from freezing whereas during
summer, it prevents the liquid from boiling (Malik, 2017).
Another application of colligative properties is in the determination of a substance’s molecular
mass. The cryoscopic method is an approach utilized to determine a molecular mass of a solute by
dissolving it and measuring the freezing point depression of the solution (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary, 1999). This method utilizes the cryoscopic constant, which expresses the freezing point
depression by the addition of a solute (Croatian-English Chemistry Dictionary & Glossary, 2018). The
objective of the experiment is to determine the molecular mass of a solid by determining first the freezing
point depression of the solvent, naphthalene. The calculation for the molecular mass is possible with the
formula: ∆ Tf =Kfm where the freezing point depression is related with the cryoscopic constant and
molality. Since molality is the moles of solute per kilogram of solvent, the molar mass of the solid can be
readily calculated.
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
Determination of Freezing Point of Naphthalene
For the determination of the freezing point of the solvent which is naphthalene, a 200 mL of tap
water was placed in a 250 mL beaker and was heated to boiling using a hot plate. Using an analytical
balance, 1.0 g of solid naphthalene was weighed to the nearest 0.1 g using an aluminum foil. The foil will
help avoid errors in transferring the solid into the test tube. The test tube was then left undisturbed in
boiling water until the solid turns into liquid. A thermometer was inserted into the test tube and was
immersed into the melt to measure its corresponding temperature. Then a cotton plug was used to cover
the test tube to prevent the escape of obnoxious odor.
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Figure 1. Melting the solid by immersing the test tube in boiling water
After the solid completely melted, the hot test tube was transferred into an air bath and was allowed to
cool while stirred gently. Stirring will make the particles interact with each other more, so the
measurement of temperature will be of the solution. The melted solid will solidify once again when
cooled thus, the solid’s freezing point will then be determined. The temperature was then recorded from
the thermometer readings for 5 minutes in 10-second intervals.
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HAZARDS
Naphthalene and a similar substance, paradichlorobenzene are considered to be carcinogens.
These substances can be harmful to the body when exposed and can cause various effects like irritation,
vision damage, headache, fatigue, confusion, tremor, nausea and vomiting. Both substances are also
combustible solids. The vapor released when heated is flammable, thus poses a dangerous fire hazard. On
the other hand, acetanilide, can be hazardous when inhaled, ingested or in contact with the eyes. Correct
handling with wearing of proper personal protective equipment is essential in managing these substances.
Proper disposal with melted solids must be followed accordingly.
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(A) (B)
Mass of naphthalene – 1.0003g
Mass of naphthalene – 1.0003g
Mass of acetanilide - 0.1023g
Time (mins) Temperature (
Time (mins) Temperature (
℃¿ ℃¿
0 94.2
0 94.2
1 79.1
1 79.1
2 74.5
2 74.5
3 68.9
3 68.9
(C)
Mass of naphthalene – 1.0072g
Mass of solid - 0.1036g
Time (mins) Temperature (
℃¿
0 87.4
1 72.7
2 68.1
3 64.9
Figure 3. (A) Recorded time and temperature for the cooling of naphthalene, (B) for the
naphthalene-acetanilide solution, (C) for naphthalene-solid solution
The determination of the freezing point of pure naphthalene in the first part of the experiment was
necessary in order to have a basis when temperatures are compared in the latter part of the experiment. It
is essential to determine how much lowering in the temperature occurred. From the graphical presentation
of the temperature vs. time (cooling curve), the point where the sudden drop of temperature landed before
it slowly decreases continuously is the recorded freezing point. The melted naphthalene solid which was
cooled in an air bath recorded 80 degrees Celsius as the freezing point. After three minutes and a half, the
temperature reached by the solidification of naphthalene was 67 degrees Celsius.
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Temperature ( ℃ )
Temperature ( ℃ )
Time (secs)
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The third part of the experiment entails the determination of the molecular mass of the assigned
solid. The graph below show the solute added to the naphthalene recorded a freezing point of 71 degrees
Celsius which was a lot lower as compared with the previously recorded temperatures. After almost 3
minutes, the recorded temperature of the solution was 64.4 degrees Celsius.
Temperature ( ℃ )
Time (secs)
Using the cryoscopic constant calculated from the previous part, the molecular mass of the solid
was determined. The formula for the change in freezing point was used in computing of the mass.
∆ T f =K f m
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3.98 ℃/m(0.1036 g)
m olecular mass=
80 ℃−71 ℃(1.0072 x 10−3 kg)
The calculated molecular mass of the solid was 45.5 g/mol which was lower compared with p-
dichlorobenzene’s true molecular mass which is 146.99 g/mol. Errors done in the laboratory have
influenced the substance’s change in molecular mass.
CONCLUSIONS
The cryoscopic method of determining the molecular mass of a solid demonstrates the
significance of solutions’ colligative properties particularly the freezing point depression. From the
obtained change in temperature, the molecular mass of the substance was calculated. The added solutes in
the solvent caused the lowering of the freezing point of the solutions as compared with the pure solvent.
This is due to the particles of the solute interfering with the solvent’s ordered state thus, requiring a lower
temperature for solidification to occur.
The objectives of the experiment were achieved with the determination of the theoretical
molecular mass of the assigned solid which was p-dichlorobenzene. The experiment’s percent error was
relatively high. The calculated molecular mass was much smaller as compared with the true value. Errors
committed have affected the resulting values. Some of these could be the incorrect freezing points
measured, improper transferring of the weighed solids from the foil to the test tube, and letting particles
stick to the thermometer thus changing molality.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author:
KRIZZI EVE D. GARCIA
Email: krizzieve.garcia.sci@ust.edu.ph
Contact number: 09294864335
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Assoc. Prof. Joyce T. Tan, M.Sc. and Prof. Jose
H. Bergantin, Jr., Ph.D. of the Chemistry Department at University of Santo Tomas, College of Science.
REFERENCES
1) Brown, T. L., LeMay, H. E., Bursten, B. E., Murphy, C. J., Woodward, P. M., & Stoltzfus, M. W.
(2018). Chemistry: The Central Science (14th ed.). United Kingdom: Pearson
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3) Malik, M. (2017, December 03). What are some unique and useful applications of colligative
properties?. [Online forum comment]. Retrieved from https://quora/What-are-some-unique-and-
useful-applications-of-colligative-properties