LABORATORY REPORT
Experiment 4
Using Freezing-Point Depression to Determine the Molecular Weight of Benzoic Acid
Name: Chinyere Kalu Due Date: 10/06/25
Lab Partner’s Name: Samuel Ampofo Sarfo Score: _____________
INTRODUCTION
Freezing-point depression is a colligative property that depends on the number of solute particles
present in a solvent rather than their identity. When a solute is dissolved in a solvent, the freezing
point of the solution is lower than that of the pure solvent because the solute particles disrupt the
formation of the solid lattice. The relationship between freezing-point depression (Δt), the
freezing-point depression constant (Kf), and the molality (m) of the solution is given by:
Δ𝑡=𝐾𝑓×𝑚 where Δ𝑡=𝑇𝑜𝑓−𝑇𝑓, 𝑇𝑜𝑓 is the freezing point of the pure solvent, and 𝑇𝑓 is the freezing
point of the solution. For lauric acid, Kf=3.9∘C⋅kg/mol. In this experiment, lauric acid
(CH₃(CH₂)₁₀COOH) served as the solvent and benzoic acid (C₆H₅COOH) as the solute. By
determining the freezing temperature of pure lauric acid and then the freezing temperature of the
benzoic acid–lauric acid mixture, the temperature change (Δt) was used to calculate the molality
and ultimately the experimental molecular weight of benzoic acid using: 𝑀𝑊 = mass of solute
(g) / moles of solute (mol). This experiment aimed to: Determine the freezing temperature of
pure lauric acid, determine the freezing temperature of a lauric acid–benzoic acid mixture,
calculate the freezing-point depression (Δt), and determine the molecular weight of benzoic acid
and compare it to the accepted theoretical value. This process reinforces the principle that
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colligative properties depend on solute quantity, not solute identity, and provides a method for
determining molecular weight through experimental data.
A.
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RESULT ANALYSIS
B. DISCUSSION
In the pure lauric acid sample, the cooling curve exhibited a clear plateau, indicating the freezing
temperature where solid and liquid phases coexist. The temperature of this plateau represented
the freezing point of pure lauric acid (Tₒf). When benzoic acid was added, the mixture’s cooling
curve displayed a more gradual decrease in temperature before leveling off, indicating
freezing-point depression. This occurs because solute molecules interfere with the ability of
lauric acid molecules to form a solid crystalline structure, requiring a lower temperature to
freeze.
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The temperature difference between pure lauric acid and the mixture (Δ𝑡=𝑇𝑜𝑓−𝑇𝑓) was then used
to calculate the molality: 𝑚=Δ𝑡/𝐾𝑓
Knowing the mass of lauric acid (solvent) and benzoic acid (solute), the number of moles of
benzoic acid was calculated using: mol solute = 𝑚×kg solvent
Finally, the experimental molecular weight of benzoic acid was determined by:
𝑀𝑊=mass of benzoic acid (g) / mol solute (mol)
The accepted molecular weight of benzoic acid is 122.12 g/mol (PubChem, 2023). The percent
error between experimental and theoretical values was calculated as:
Discrepancies may have resulted from heat loss during cooling, uneven stirring, or incomplete
mixing of solute and solvent seeing as we had a ridiculously high percent error. The gradual
temperature decrease in the mixture’s cooling curve is explained by the time it takes for the
entire mixture to reach thermal equilibrium and begin forming a solid network—slower than in
the pure solvent because solute particles hinder crystal formation.
CONCLUSION
The experiment successfully demonstrated the concept of freezing-point depression and its
application in determining molecular weight. The lauric acid–benzoic acid mixture froze at a
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lower temperature than pure lauric acid due to the disruption of crystal formation by benzoic acid
molecules. The calculated molecular weight of benzoic acid wasn’t close to the theoretical value
of 122.12 g/mol, due to complications and/or human error. We learned to record temperature vs.
time data using computer-based tools (Logger Pro), identify freezing points graphically, and
apply colligative property equations to real experimental data. These skills are essential for
analytical chemistry, where molecular weights of unknown compounds can be determined from
measurable physical properties.
REFERENCES (APA 6th Style)
Chem LibreTexts. (2023). Colligative properties and freezing point depression.
[Link]
y_Chemistry_(Budhi)/13%3A_Solutions/13.09%3A_Freezing_Point_Depression_and_B
oiling_Point_Elevation
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). (2023). Benzoic acid: Compound
summary (CID 243). PubChem Database. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from
[Link]
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025). PubChem Compound Summary for CID
3893, Lauric Acid. Retrieved October 4, 2025 from
[Link]