CHEMISTRY - SOLUTIONS

Module -3
Learning Outcome:
• Understand and define Colligative properties
• Justify the Relative lowering in vapour pressure
• Explain elevation in boiling point
• Explain depression in Freezing point
• Understand and apply the concept of Osmosis and Osmotic pressure to
daily life situations.
• Determine the molar mass of solute using colligative properties.

COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES
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The properties of dilute solutions which depend only on number of particles of
solute present in the solution irrespective of their nature are called colligative
properties.
The important colligative properties are:
RELATIVE LOWERING OF VAPOUR PRESSURE ON ADDING A NON-
VOLATILE SOLUTE
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The vapour pressure of a solution containing a non-volatile solute is less than the
pure solvent. This is because some solute occupies the surface of the liquid, hence
less amount of liquid will escape to the vapour phase hence vapour pressure will be
less.

According to Raoult’s law, the vapor pressure of a solution containing a non-volatile

solute states that the partial pressure exerted by solution is same as the partial
pressure exerted by the solvent which is directly proportional to its mole fraction
in solution.(Solute does not exert VP as it is non- volatile.).
It can be represented as
ps = pA = p0A XA
pA = p0A (1-XB) , { XA + XB = 1}
p A − pA
 = XB
p A
p A − pA
p A Represents relative lowering of vapor pressure.
Therefore, Raoult’s law for a solution containing non -volatile solute can also be
stated as relative lowering of vapour pressure is equal the mole fraction of solute.
Relative lowering in vapour pressure = Mole fraction of solute

Determination of molecular mass of solute

p A − pA
= XB
p A
𝑝°𝐴−𝑝𝐴 𝑊𝐵 𝑀𝐴
= 𝑥 {Because the solution is very dilute}
𝑝°𝐴 𝑀𝐵 𝑊𝐴

Where MB – molar mass of solute, MA – molar mass of solvent

By knowing WB, WA, MA & relative lowering of V.P., molar mass of solute can be
calculated
ELEVATION OF BOILING POINT
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• The boiling point of a liquid is the

temperature at which the vapour pressure
of liquid becomes equal to the atmospheric
pressure.
• When a non - volatile solute is dissolved in
a solvent its vapor pressure decreases.
Hence, the solution must be heated to a
higher temperature to make its vapour
pressure equal to atmospheric pressure.

Tb = elevation in boiling point,

Tb = Tb –T0b
Where, Tb and T0b are the boiling point of solution and pure solvent respectively.
Greater the boiling point of solution, greater will be the elevation in boiling
point.
For a dilute solution, the elevation in boiling point is found to be proportional to the
molality of the solution i.e.
Tb = kb.m
Where kb = molal elevation constant or Ebullioscopic constant
m = molality of solution
Molal elevation constant or Ebullioscopic constant is defined as the elevation in
boiling point when molality is one. Its unit is K Kg/mol.
It is a characteristic of solvent.
Molal Elevation constant can be calculated using the formula:
M A .RTb 2
kb =
1000 x Hvap

Determination of molar mass of solute

Tb = Kb .m

Where M2 = molecular weight of solute and w2 and w1 are weights of solute and
solvent
Q. Why does a solution containing a non-volatile solute have a higher boiling
point than the pure solvent?
A2. When we add a non-volatile solute to a pure solvent, the vapour pressure
of solution decreases, therefore, it must be heated to higher temperature so
that its vapour pressure becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, i.e. its
boiling point will be higher.

Q. Why is elevation in boiling point a colligative property?

Elevation of boiling point is a colligative property because it depends upon
molality which in turn depends on the number of moles of solute particles
and not on the nature of solution. Tb = kb.m

DEPRESSION IN FREEZING POINT

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• Freezing point is the temperature at
which the solid and the liquid state of the
substance have same vapor pressure.
• Since the presence of a non-volatile solute
lowers the vapor pressure of the solvent, the
freezing point of the solution is always
less than that of pure solvent.

 Tf is called depression in freezing point.

 Tf = T0f -Tf, where Tf and T0f are the freezing point of solution and pure solvent
respectively.
Greater the freezing point of solution, lesser will be the depression in freezing
point.
The depression in freezing point ( Tf) is proportional to the molality of the
solution.
 Tf = kf. m
kf is molal depression constant or Cryoscopy constant
Molal Depression constant is defined as the depression in freezing point when
concentration is one molal. Its unit is K Kg Mol-1
Kf depends upon the nature of the solvent, its value is different for different
solvents.
The value of Kf can be ascertained from the following relation:
M A RTf 2
kf =
1000 x H fus

Determination of molar mass of solute

 Tf = kf. m
WB
Tf = kf. x 1000
MB x WA

Q. Why is it advised to add ethylene glycol to water in a car radiator while

driving in a hill station?
Ans: Mixture of ethylene glycol and water is called antifreeze. It lowers the
freezing point of water.

Q Why is salt sprinkled over snow to clear the roads in cold countries?
Ans:When salt is sprinkles over snow, its freezing point is lowered thus
clearing the road easily.

Q, Why do solution containing non volatile solute has lower freezing point than
pure solvent?
Ans: The vapour pressure of solution is less ,so it becomes equal to the vapour
pressure of solid solvent at a much lower temperature. Hence the freezing
point lowers.
OSMOSIS AND OSMOTIC
PRESSURE
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Osmosis is the spontaneous flow of
solvent molecules from pure solvent to
solution through a semi permeable
membrane. In other words if we have 2
solutions of different concentrations the
movement of solvent from solution of
lower concentration to solution of Level of solution rises in the thistle
higher concentrations is called osmosis. funnel due to osmosis of solvent.

Osmotic Pressure: Excess pressure which must be applied to a solution in order to

prevent flow of solvent into the solution through the semi-permeable membrane.
Mathematically, it is represented as
= CRT or V = nRT
Where,
= Osmotic pressure
C= Molar concentration.
R = Gas constant
T = Absolute temperature

Determination of molecular mass of solute

nB WB  RT
= .RT =
V (l ) MB.V (l )
Isotonic Solutions: A pair of solutions having same osmotic pressure is called
isotonic solutions.
If a solution has more osmotic pressure than some other solution, it is called
hypertonic.
If a solution has less osmotic pressure than the other solution it is called hypotonic.

Importance of Osmotic pressure Method

Osmotic pressure method is generally preferred for finding the molecular masses
of proteins, polymers and other macromolecules because of following reasons.
a) Osmotic pressure for such substances is appreciable and can be easily measured
whereas other colligative properties are too small to be measured.
b) Osmotic pressure measurement can be done at room temperature.
c) Molarity is used instead of molality.
d) It is a more suitable method for bio-molecules which are generally not stable at
higher temperatures.

Reverse Osmosis and water Purification

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If a pressure greater then osmotic pressure is applied to the solution side, solvent
moves from solution to the solvent side through semi permeable membrane. This
process of movement of solvent from solution to solvent side through SPM by
applying excess pressure on the solution side is called Reverse Osmosis.

This method has been used for the desalination of sea water using cellulose acetate
film which is selectively permeable to water but impermeable to impurities and
ions present in sea water.

Biological and industrial importance of osmosis.

(i) Preservation of meat by salting and fruits by adding sugar. This prevents
bacterial infection. Bacteria shrivel in salty meat or fruit with sugar due to
osmosis and will die ultimately
(ii) Movement of water from soil into plant roots and subsequently into upper
portion of the plant is partly due to osmosis.
(iii) People taking lot of salty food experience water retention in cells and
intracellular spaces due to osmosis. This swelling is called Edema.
Solved Questions
Q1. What are colligative properties? Give any two examples.
[Link] properties of solutions which depend only on the number of solute
particles, irrespective of their nature. Examples: Elevation in boiling point,
relative lowering in vapour pressure, depression in freezing point and osmotic
pressure.

Q. When kept in water, raisin swells in size? Name the phenomenon involved.
A1. Osmosis.

Q. What happens when Red blood cell in placed in

(i) 0.9% NaCl solution
(ii) NaCl solution whose concentration is <than 0.9%
(iii) NaCl solution whose concentration is >than 0.9%

Ans. Human blood is isotonic with0.9%NaCl (Brine)

(i) No osmosis will take place
(ii) RBC swells due to osmosis
(iii) RBC shrinks.

Q. Why is osmotic pressure a colligative property?

Ans: Osmotic pressure depends on the molar concentration which in turn
depends on the number of moles of solute.
Q. Why is osmotic pressure preffered to measure the molecular mass of
macromolecules?

Ans: (a) Osmotic pressure for such substances is appreciable and can be easily
measured whereas other colligative properties are too small to be measured.
b) Osmotic pressure measurement can be done at room temperature, hence more
suitable method for bio-molecules which are generally not stable at higher
temperatures.
c) Molarity is used instead of molality.
Solved Numericals
. Q.A solution is prepared by dissolving 10 g of non-volatile solute in 200 g of
water. It has a vapour pressure of 31.84 mm Hg at 308 K. Calculate the molar
mass of the solute. (Vapour pressure of pure water at 308 K = 32 mm Hg)
A4.

Q. When 1.5 g of a non-volatile solute was dissolved in 90 g of benzene, the

boiling point of benzene raised from 353.23 K to 353.93 K. Calculate the
molar mass of the solute. Kb for benzene = 2.52kg/mol.
A5.

Assignments
MCQ
Q1. Colligative properties depend on
(a) The nature of the solute particles dissolved in solution.
(b) The number of solute particles in solution.
(c) The physical properties of the solute particles dissolved in solution.
(c) The nature of solvent particles.
Q2. The unit of ebulioscopic constant is
(a) K kg mol–1 or K (molality)–1 (b) mol kg K–1 or K–1(molality)
(c) Kg mol–1 K–1 or K–1(molality)–1 (d) K mol kg–1 or K (molality)
Q3. A pressure cooker reduces cooking time because
(a)Heat is more evenly distributed (b) the higher pressure tenderizes the
food
(c) The boiling point of water inside the cooker is elevated
(d)The boiling point of water inside the cooker is depressed
Q4. An unripe mango placed in a concentrated salt solution to prepare pickle,
shrivels because _____________.
(a) It gains water due to osmosis.
(b) It loses water due to reverse osmosis.
(c) It gains water due to reverse osmosis.
(d) It loses water due to osmosis.
Q5. At a given temperature, osmotic pressure of a concentrated solution of a
substance _____________.
(a) is higher than that of a dilute solution.
(b) is lower than that of a dilute solution.
(c) is same as that of a dilute solution.
(d) Cannot be compared with osmotic pressure of dilute solution.
Q6. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) Two different solutions of sucrose of same molality prepared in different
solvents will have the same depression in freezing point.
(b) The osmotic pressure of a solution is given by the equation Π = CRT
(Where C is the molarity of the solution).
(c) According to Raoult’s law, the vapour pressure exerted by a volatile
component of a solution is directly proportional to its mole fraction in
the solution.
 (d) If a pressure greater then osmotic pressure is applied to the solution
side, solvent moves from solvent side to the solution side through semi
permeable membrane.

Q7. Which of the following statements is not true?

(a) Units of atmospheric pressure and osmotic pressure are the same.
(b) In reverse osmosis, solvent molecules move through a semipermeable
membrane from a region of lower concentration of solute to a region of
higher concentration.
(c) The value of molal depression constant depends on nature of solvent.
(d) Relative lowering of vapour pressure, is a dimensionless quantity.

Answer Key: 1: b, 2: a, 3: c, 4: d, 5: b, 6: d, 7: d

Assertion-reason questions:
1. Assertion: Greater the boiling point of solution, greater will be the elevation in
boiling point.
Reason: When a non-volatile solute is added to a volatile solvent elevation in
boiling point is observed.
2. Assertion: When NaCl is added to water a depression in freezing point is
observed.
Reason: The lowering of vapour pressure of a solution causes depression in
the freezing point.
3. Assertion: When a solution is separated from the pure solvent by a
semipermeable membrane, the solvent molecules pass through it
from pure solvent side to the solution side.
Reason: Diffusion of solvent occurs from a region of high concentration
solution to a region of low concentration solution.
Answers: 1. (c), 2. (a), 3. (a)

Numerical Problems:
1. When 25.6 g of Sulphur was dissolved in 1000 g of benzene, the freezing point
lowered by 0.512 K. Calculate the formula of Sulphur (Sx).
( Kf for benzene = 5.12 K Kg mol-1, Atomic mass of Sulphur = 32 g mol-1)

(CBSE Board-2022)
 2.A non-volatile solute ‘X’ (Molar mass = 50 g mol-1) when dissolved in 78 g
of benzene reduced its vapour pressure to 90%. Calculate the mass of X
dissolved in the solution. (CBSE Board-2022)

3.A solution containing 2 gms of glucose in 100 gms of water is prepared at

[Link] the vapour pressure of pure water at 303K is 32.8 mm Hg ,what would
be the pressure of the solution.? Ans: 32.73 mm Hg

4. 18 gms of non volatile solute is dissolved in 200g of water freezez at 272.07

K Calculate the molecular mass of solute. Ans; 180 gms.

Solve NCERT in text question no. 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.15, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2.22, 2.34,
2.36, 2.40, 2.41.