TITLE : FREEZING POINT DEPRESSION AND MOLAR MASS DETERMINATION

INTRODUCTION :
When non-volatile solute is added into a pure solvent, the freezing point of the solvent is
depressed. This phenomenon is called the freezing point depression. In other word, the
solution possesses a lower freezing point than the pure solvent. The freezing point
depression can be explained as solvent molecules leaves the liquid phase and join to form
the solid phase; they leave behind a lesser volume of solution where the solute particles
may present. This results in the decrease of entropy of the solute particles. Thus, we can say
that freezing point depression depends on the concentration of the solute particles present
and it is called colligative properties. The colligative properties are solution that depends on
the number of molecules in a constant volume of solvent but not the properties of the
molecules. However, when the concentration of the solute becomes larger, where the
interaction of solute becomes more important, therefore, the freezing point depression may
depend on certain properties of the solute rather than the concentration.

In this experiment, we will investigate the phenomenon of freezing point depression and
determine the molar mass of p-nitrotoluene. A solution of a known solute(1,4-
dichlorobenzene) dissolved in naphthalene, and an unknown solution of p-nitrotoluene. The
p-nitrotoluene is considered to be an unknown solute because we will determining the
molar mass of p-nitrotoluene.

OBJECTIVES :
1. To determine freezing point depression of a solution and molar freezing point
constant of the solvent.
2. To obtain the molar mass of a solute.
APPARATUS
1. Boiling Tubes
2. Thermometer
3. Conical Flask
4. Stop Watch
5. Weighing Boat
6. Water Bath
7. Analytical Balance
8. Retort stand and clamp

CHEMICALS
1. Naphthalene
2. 1,4-dicholorobenzene
3. P-nitrotoluene

PROCEDURE
A. Determination of freezing point of naphthalene
5g of naphthalene was weighed to the nearest 0.01g and was added to a clean and dry
boiling tube. The naphthalene was melted completely in the hot water bath. The rubber
stopper and copper wire was inserted into the boiling tube containing the thermometer.
Make sure that the bulb of the thermometer is immersed in the molten naphthalene and
that the copper wire can be agitated freely by moving it up and down to have a uniform
temperature throughout the sample. The tube was taken out from the water bath once the
temperature of naphthalene has reached 95°C. Use a clamp to set the tube vertically in the
conical flask. Once the temperature of naphthalene has dropped to 90°C, start recording the
temperature every 30 seconds nearest 0.1°C. The temperature of naphthalene was
continued to record until the temperature has dropped to 60°C. Do not discard the
naphthalene. Keep this for part B. Determine the freezing point of naphthalene by draw the
cooling curve, temperature versus time.
 B. DETERMINATION OF Kf FOR NAPHTHALENE
0.5 g of 1,4-dicholorobenzene was weighed to the nearest 0.01 g and was added to the
boiling tube that containing naphthalene. Steps 2 to 5 in part A was repeated. Once the
mixture has solidified, melt in hot water bath and discard the solution in the waste
containing indicated by the instructor. Determine the freezing point of naphthalene-1,4-
dicholorobenzene by draw the cooling curve, temperature versus time.

C. DETERMINATION OF FREEZING POINT OF P-NITROTOLUENE

5g of naphthalene was weighed to the nearest 0.01g and was added to a clean and dry
boiling tube. 1 g of naphthalene was weighed to the nearest 0.01 g and was added to the
boiling tube. Steps 2 to 5 in part A was repeated. Once the mixture has solidified, melt in hot
water bath and discard the solution in the waste containing indicated by the instructor.
Determine the freezing point of naphthalene-1,4-dicholorobenzene by draw the cooling
curve, temperature versus time.
CALCULATION
Mass of naphthalene = 0.00502 kg
Mass of p-nitrotoluene = 1.002 g
Kf of naphthalene = 6.9 °C kg/mol
Actual Mw of p-nitrotoluene = 137.14 g/mol

Tf = Kfm; where Kf of naphthalene : 6.9°C kg/mol

m = molality

ΔTf = 78.0°C - 66°C

= 12°C

Therefore, 12.0°C = 6.9 °C kg/mol x m

= 1.7391 mol/kg

Molality, 1.7391 mol/kg = ( mol / 0.00502 kg )

= 0.00873 mol

Molar mass p-nitrotoluene = ( 1.002 g / 0.00873 mol )

= 114.78 g/mol

Percentage error =( 137.14 – 114.78 ) / 137.14 x 100%

= 16.30 %
DISCUSSION
In this experiment the freezing point of the naphthalene mixture was lower than that of the pure
naphthalene. This happened because of the ratio of solute and solvent particles. The more of a
solute that is put in, the lower the freezing point of a substance would be the type of the substance
is not the effector. This defines colligative property and holds true in this experiment. By comparing
graph 1 to graphs 2 and 3, it is visible that the more solute placed into the naphthalene, the lower
the freezing point was. When studying the molecular weight, it was not close enough to determine
what the unknown was.

The lack of determination of the unknown could be caused by a slight loss of naphthalene between
the trials due to the freezing of naphthalene on the temperature probe causing small amounts to be
removed with the probe. It could also deviate slightly by determining the freezing points graphically.

QUESTIONS

1. Supercooling happens when a solution momentarily drops below its freezing point,
and then warms up again before solidification. What event is likely to give rise up
to supercooling?

Supercooling occurs just before the freezing pt. of a substance occurs in some
substances. The crystals of solid have trouble forming until the temp decreases slightly
below the freezing part and then as they begin forming, the temp rises back to the
freezing part and stays there until all of the liquid turns to a liquid (freezes), after which
the temp can go down further such that cooling a liquid in a very clean smooth
container to a temperature below its freezing point.

2. A 0.5 g sample of a non-volatile solute dissolve in 10.0g 0f acetic acid. The freezing
point the solution is 15.9°C. ( Kf of acetic acid is 3.9°C kg mol¯¹ and freezing point is
17°C )
(a) What is the molality of the solute in the solution ?
 (b) Calculate the molar mass of the solute

(c) The same mass of solute is dissolved in 10g of t-butanol instead of acetic acid.

What is the expected freezing point change of the solution ?

( Kf of t-butanol is 9.1 °C kg/mol and freezing point is 25.5°C )

CONCLUSION
Colligative properties are properties of a solution dependent on the concentration of solute
particles, not on the chemical properties of the solute. In this experiment, I used the
colligative property of freezing point depression to calculate the molality of p-nitrotoluene.
The freezing point of a pure solution of naphthalene will be investigated by graphing a cooling
curve. Then, using the cooling cure for a solution of naphthalene and an unknown solute, a
freezing point depression can be found. The freezing point depression can then be used to
calculate the molality and molarity of the unknown which will be used to identify the
substance. If the change of the freezing point depresses dramatically after adding the
unknown solute to the naphthalene solution, the molality of this solute is expected to be large
as well as the molarity. If the change of the freezing point depresses is minute after adding
the unknown solute to the naphthalene solution, the molality of the solute is expected to be
small.

REFERENCES

1. Rahman M. S., 1994. The accuracy of prediction of the freezing point of meat from
general models. J. Food Eng 21, 127-136.
2. Colligative Properties of Solutions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2016,
fromhttp://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/principles-of-general-chemistry-v1.0/s17-05-
colligative-properties-of-solu.html
3. Chemistry 104: Molecular Weight by Freezing Point Depression. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07,2016,
from http://www.chem.latech.edu/~deddy/chem104/104Freeze.htm
4. Mashiah Domat Shaharudin, Nesamalar Kantasamy ( 2017 ) , Introduction to Physical Chemistry
published by UITM PRESS.