ARABI 1

NAME: AHMAD ABDULKADIR ARABI

ID NUMBER: A00023244

LAB MEMBERS: Excel Ayorinde, Rebecca

Nenni, Aisha Umar

COURSE CODE: CHE 121

LAB TITLE:

USING FREEZING POINT DEPRESSION TO

FIND MOLECULAR WEIGHT

(LAB 1)

DATE: 15TH SEPTEMBER, 2022

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Abstract:

 In this lab, the freezing point depression method was used to determine the molecular weight of
benzoic acid. This was done by determining the freezing point of lauric acid and that of benzoic
acid solution mixed; then finding the molality of the solution, and moles of benzoic acid solute.

Introduction:

The freezing-point depression is a colligative property that depends on the ratio of solute and
solvent particles. For instance, when a solute is broken up in a dissolvable, the freezing
temperature is brought due down to the quantity of moles of solute added, not really the idea of
the substance. Examples of colligative properties are boiling point and the osmotic pressure; they
are interested in the amount of the substance used not to indicate the identity of the substance
(Chemistry LibreTexts).

Looking at freezing point depression and the relationship with molecular weight, a solution of
lauric acid was contaminated with benzoic acid. So the freezing point of lauric acid and has been
so called contaminated with benzoic acid was looked at. It was expected that the introduction of
benzoic acid to the same quantity of lauric acid would cause a reduction in the freezing point.
Thus, the difference between the original freezing point of its state and its contaminated form is
what is called the “depression”. The freezing-point depression equation ∆t =Kf x m was used.
Where ∆t is the freezing point depression in a solution, Kf is the freezing point depression
constant (3.9 degrees Celsius*kg/mol), and m is the molality of the solution. The two most
significant factors influencing the freezing-point depression are the molality of the solution and
the freezing point depression constant (Chemistry LibreTexts).

Materials:

Venier computer interface Temperature probe

Computer Stir Station

Logger pro 400ml beaker

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Tissue Utility clamp

Lauric acid, (CH3 (CH2)10COOH

Lauric acid – benzoic acid mixture

Hot water bath

Two 18 x 150mm test tube

Methods:

Lauric acid was weighed 8g and was poured in one test tube and another test tube was filled
with 8g of Lauric acid and 1g of Benzoic acid together. A temperature probe was connected to
the computer interface and logger pro was clicked on and the file “04 Freezing Point” from the
venier folder was opened.

Part I; Determine the Freezing Temperature of Pure Lauric Acid.

300ml of tap water with a normal room temperature was added to a 400ml beaker, and was
placed on the base of a stir station. Using a utility clamp, the two tubes where inserted in the hot
boiling beaker so as to melt the two solids. Cool water was fetched with a beaker and after the
lauric acid solution was completely melted, it was removed from the hot boiling water from the
beaker using a tong and inputted in the beaker containing cool water. A Temperature probe was
then inserted in the test tube with Lauric acid, collect was clicked to start data collection on the
monitor, the probe was being moved in an up and down motion for 10mins which led the lauric
acid to freeze back again. The freezing temperature was determined using the mean listed in the
statistics box when pressed.

Part II; Determine the Freezing Temperature of a solution of Benzoic Acid and Lauric Acid.

From the previous experiment, the latest run was stored. The contaminated test tube having the
Lauric and Benzoic acid together was placed in a cool water bath also, after it got completely
melted. The same strategy of up and down motion using the temperature probe done in part I
was repeated on part II, the freezing temperature of the Benzoic acid – Lauric acid was
determined by finding the temperature at which the mixture initially started to freeze. This was
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determined by clicking and dragging the mouse to highlight the initial part of the cooling curve
(before freezing occurred), linear fit was clicked and the mouse was clicked and dragged over the
next linear point of the curve where gently sloping section of the curve where freezing took
place. Lastly, linear fit was clicked on the software and two regression lines displayed. After
that, interpolate was chosen from the Analyze menu and the cursor was moved so as to get an
intersection between two lines. Thus, where the two lines intercepted and got the same
temperature reading in the interpolate box was the freezing point of the Benzoic acid – Lauric
acid mixture.

All records were then recorded.

Results/Discussion:

Fig 1.
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Fig 2.

While on the experiment, it was observed that the graph of the pure solvent; lauric acid shows a
level of straight line (horizontal) curve as the solid point occurs, because a pure substance keeps
constant as it freezes in fig (1) above representing the red color. While the curve for the mixture
of lauric acid and benzoic acid solution slopes downward due to when a solution freezes,
typically the pure solvent freezes first and as it continues to become more solid, the remaining
solution is more concentrated, which the freezing point is lower. This can be shown in Fig 1
above representing the blue color also.

Data Table;

Mass of Lauric acid (g) 8.0

Mass of Benzoic acid (g) 1.0
Freezing temperature of pure Lauric acid (℃) 43.65
Freezing temperature of the Benzoic acid and 39.4
Lauric acid mixture (℃)
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Data Analysis:

1. Calculate molality (m), in mol/kg, using the formula ∆t= Kf x m. The Kf value for lauric
acid is 3.9℃.kg/mol.

Solution

∆t = 43.65 – 39.40
= 4.25

Kf = 3.9℃.kg/mol

⸫ m = ∆t/ Kf
= 4.25/3.9

m = 1.089mol/kg.

2. Calculate the moles of benzoic acid solute, using the molality and mass (in kg) of lauric
acid solvent.

Solution

1000g = 1kg

⸫ 8g of lauric acid = 8/1000 =0.008kg

Mole of benzoic acid = Molality of solute x Molar Mass of solvent in kg (lauric acid)

= 1.089 x 0.008

= 0.00882 moles

3. Calculate the experimental molecular weight of benzoic acid, in g/mol.

Solution

Molar mass of benzoic acid = Mass of benzoic acid (g) /Mole of benzoic acid

= 1.0/0.00882

=113.4g/mol
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4. Determine the accepted molecular weight of benzoic acid from , C6H5COOH

Solution

Atomic weight; C= 12, H=1, O=16,

Accepted molecular weight = (6x12) + (5x1) + (12+16+16+1)

=122g/mol

5. Calculate the percent discrepancy between the experimental and accepted values.

Solution

(Accepted molar mass – Experimental molar mass)/Accepted molar mass x 100

= (122 – 113.4) / 122 x 100 = 7.05% discrepancy.

Precaution:

 Disposable gloves were worn throughout the lab

 All glasswares were washed before using to avoid contamination from previously used
 Grams of substances were measured accurately
 Ensured that all flammable substance that might cause ignition during our experiment
was kept away.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the freezing point depression equation (∆t=Kf x m) was used to calculate the
molecular weight (MW) of benzoic acid, the freezing temperature of lauric acid, the pure
solvent, the freezing temperature of a mixture of lauric acid and benzoic acid, and the freezing
point depression of a mixture. The moles of benzoic acid solute are.0.00882mol, the molality (m)
is 1.089 mol/kg, the experimental molecular weight of benzoic acid is 113.4 g/mol, the accepted
molecular weight of benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) is 122 grams, and the percentage difference
between the experimental and accepted values is 7.05%. By adding the freezing temperatures of
the pure solvent, lauric acid, and the mixture of the solution, one may use the freezing point
depression equation to calculate the molecular weight of benzoic acid.
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Works Cited
depression, Freezing point. Chemistry LibreTexts. 12 January 2006. 17 September 2022

<https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textboo

k_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/

Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions_and_Mixtures/Colligative_Properties/

Freezing_Point_Depression>.