Colligative Properties
Colligative Properties
Colligative Properties
VAPOUR PRESSURE:
Consider a pure liquid in a beaker is covered with a jar. Some molecules on the liquid surface
evaporate and fill the vacant space available to them. The molecules in the vapour phase move
randomly in the vacant space, during this motion, they strike the surface of the liquid and
established between evaporation and condensation. The pressure exerted by vapours over the
If solute is non-volatile solid or liquid the vapour pressure of solution is equal to partial vapour
pressure of solvent in the solution and if the solute is volatile solid or liquid, then vapour
pressure will be equal to the sum of partial vapour pressure of solute and that of solvent.
RAOULT’S LAW:
In 1986, a French Chemist named Francois Marte Raoult proposed a quantitative relation
between partial pressure and mole fraction of volatile liquids. The law states that mole fraction
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Image 1: Types of Solutions
On the basis of Raoult’s Law, liquid-liquid solutions are classified into two types of solutions,
they are:
Ideal Solutions
Non-ideal Solutions
The solutions which obey Raoult’s law at all compositions of solute in solvent at all
Ideal solutions can be obtained by mixing two components with identical molecular size,
structure and they should have almost same inter molecular attraction e.g., two liquids A and
B form an ideal solution when A –A and B–B molecular attractions will be same and hence
A–B molecular atrraction will be almost same as A–A and B–B molecular attraction.
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Vmixing = 0, i.e. no expansion or contraction on mixing ?
The solution which deviate from ideal behaviour are called non ideal solution or real
solutions and they do not obey Raoult’s law over entire range of composition.
It has been found that on increasing dilution, a non ideal solution tend to be ideal.
Hmixing 0,
Vmixing = 0
Case 1:
Such a solution shows positive deviation from Raoult’s Law and the observed boiling point
of such solutions is found to be less than the calculated value. e.g. cyclohexane and ethanol.
In ethanol the molecules are held together due to hydrogen bonding, when cyclohexane is
added to ethanol the molecules of cyclohexane tend to occupy the space between ethanol
molecules due to which some hydrogen bonds break due to which inter molecular attraction
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between cyclohexane and ethanol is reduced and hence show higher vapour pressure.
Acetone + Ethanol
Acetone- Benzene
Water + Methanol
Water + Ethyanol
Case 2:
Solutions of above type show negative deviation from Raoult’s law and their observed
boiling point is found to be higher than the calculated value eg. When acetone and chloroform
are mixed together a hydrogen bond is formed between them which increases inter molecular
Acetone + Aniline
Chloroform + Benzene
Water + HCl
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Condition for forming non-ideal solution showing positive deviation
A-B attractive force should be weaker than A-A and B-B attractive force.
“A” and “B” escape easily showing higher vapour pressure than the expected value.
A-B attractive force should be greater than A-A and B-B attractive force.
Escaping tendency of both “A” and “B” is lower showing lower vapour pressure than
expected ideally.
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Vmix = 0; total volume of Vmix > 0. Volume is Vmix <0. Volume is
solution is equal to sum of increased after dissolution. decreased during
volumes of the dissolution.
components.
P = pA + pB = pA0XA + pA > pA0XA; pB > pB0XB pA < pA0XA; pB < pB0XB
pB0XB ∴ pA + pB > pA0XA + pB0XB ∴ pA + pB < pA0XA + pB0XB
A—A, A—B, B—B A—B attractive force should A—B attractive force should
interactions should be same, be weaker than A—A and be greater than A—A and
i.e., ‘A’ and ‘B’ are B—B attractive forces. ‘A’ B—B attractive forces. ‘A’
identical in shape, size and and ‘B’ have different shape, and ‘B’ have different shape,
character. size and character. size and character.
Escaping tendency of ‘A’ ‘A’ and B’ escape easily Escaping tendency of both
and ‘B’ should be same in showing higher vapour components ‘A’ and ‘B’ is
pure liquids and in the pressure than the expected lowered showing lower
solution. value. vapour pressure than
expected ideally.
AZEOTROPES:
Azeotropes are defined as a mixture of two liquids which has a constant composition in liquid
and vapour phase at all temperatures. Azeotropes can’t be separated by fractional distillation,
as the composition of vapour phase remains same after boiling. Because of uniform
MinimumBoilingAzeotrope
Maximum Boiling Azeotrope is formed when we mix two non-ideal solutions at some specific
Examples:
Nitric Acid (HNO3) (68%) and water (32%) form maximum boiling azeotrope at boiling
temperature of 393.5 K
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Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) (20.24%) and water form maximum boiling azeotrope at
Minimum Boiling Azeotrope is formed when we mix two non-ideal solutions at some specific
Example:
Ethanol (95.5 %) and water (4.5 %) form minimum boiling azeotrope at boiling
temperature of 351.5 K
COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES:
A dilute solution is one in which the amount of the solute is very small in comparison to the
amount of the solvent.The dilute solutions show more or less ideal behavior as the heat and
volume changes, accompanying the mixing of solute and solvent, are negligible for all
practical purposes. Dilute solutions obey Raoult’s law. The properties of dilute solutions
which depend only on number particles of solute present in the solution and not on their
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We shall assume here that the solute is non-volatile, so it does not contribute to the vapour.
We shall also assume that the solute does not dissolve in solid solvent, that is, the pure solid
solvent separates when the solution is frozen, the latter assumption is quite drastic, although
Colligative properties are the properties of only dilute solution which are supposed to behave
Osmotic pressure
It has been known for a long time that when a non-volatile solute is dissolved in a liquid, the
vapour pressure of the solution becomes lower than the vapour pressure of the pure solvent.
In 1886, the French chemist, Francois Raoult, after a series of experiments on a number of
solvents including water, benzene and ether, succeeded in establishing a relationship between
the lowering of vapour pressure of a solution and the mole fraction of the non-volatile solute.
of a volatile solvent. Then mole fraction of the solvent, X 1 = N/(n+N) and mole fraction of
the solute, X2 = n /(N +n). Since the solute is non-volatile, it would have negligible vapour
pressure. The vapour pressure of the solution is, therefore merely the vapour pressure of the
solvent. According to Raoult's law, the vapour pressure of a solvent (P1) in an ideal solution
P1 = X1 P10 ................(1)
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where P10 is the vapour pressure of the pure solvent. Since X1 + X 2 = 1, Eq. 1 may be written
as
The expression on the left hand side of Equation (3) is usually called the relative lowering of
vapour pressure. Equation (3) may thus be stated as: `The relative lowering of vapour
pressure of a solution containing a non-volatile solute is equal to the mole fraction of the
Since mole fraction of the solute, X 2 is given by n/(N+n), Equation (3) may be expressed as
It is evident from Equation (4) that the lowering of vapour pressure of a solution depends
upon the number of moles (and hence on the number of molecules) of the solute and not upon
the nature of the solute dissolved in a given amount of the solvent. Hence, lowering of vapour
W gram of solvent of molar mass M, lowers the vapour pressure from P10 to P1.
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Since in dilute solutions, n is very small as compared to N, Equation (5) may be put in the
approximate form as
Question
The density of a 0.438 M solution of potassium chromate at 298 K is 1.063 g cm-3. Calculate
the vapour pressure of water above this solution. Given : P0 (water) = 23.79 mm Hg.
Solution
A solution of 0.438 M means 0.438 mol of K2CrO4 is present in 1L of the solution. Now,
Mass of K2CrO4 dissolved per litre of the solution = 0.438 194 = 84.972 g
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Finally, Vapour pressure of water above solution = 0.976 23.79 = 23.22 mm Hg
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapour pressure becomes equal to
760 mm (i.e. 1 atmospheric pressure). Since the addition of a non-volatile solute lowers the
vapour pressure of the solvent, the vapour pressure of a solution is always lower than that of
the pure solvent, and hence it must be heated to a higher temperature to make its vapour
pressure equal to atmospheric pressure. Thus the solution boils at a higher temperature than
the pure solvent. If Tb0 is the boiling point of the solvent and Tb is the boiling point of the
solution, the difference in boiling points ( Tb) is called the elevation of boiling point.
This implies that the boiling point elevation in a dilute solution is directly proportional to the
number of moles of the solute dissolved in a given amount of the solvent and is quite
independent of the nature of the solute. Hence, boiling point elevation is a colligative property
Tb = Kb m
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m : molality of the solution
Molal boiling point elevation constant or ebullioscopic constant of the solvent, is defined
as the elevation in boiling point which may theoretically be produced by dissolving one mole
or
where m1 = molecular weight of solute and w and W are weights of solute and solvent.
Freezing point is the temperature at which solid and liquid states of a substance have the
same vapour pressure. It is observed that the freezing point of the solution (Tf) containing
Tf molality
solute
or Tf = Kfm
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Molal freezing point depression constant of the solvent or cryoscopic constant, is defined as
the depression in freezing point which may theoretically be produced by dissolving 1 mole of
where m1 = molecular weight of solute and w and W are weights of solute and solvent.
The phenomenon of the passage of pure solvent from a region of lower concentration (of the
called osmosis.
The driving force of osmosis is what is known as osmotic pressure. It is the difference in the
pressure between the solution and the solvent system or it is the excess pressure which must
be applied to a solution in order to prevent flow of solvent into the solution through the semi-
permeable membrane. Once osmosis is complete the pressure exerted by the solution and the
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Van't Hoff equation for dilute solutions is (parallel to ideal gas equation)
V = nRT
V= volume of solution
R = Gas constant
T= Absolute temperature
Isotonic Solutions: A pair of solutions having same osomotic pressure is called isotonic
solutions.
Reverse Osmosis
When a solution is separated from pure water by a semipermeable membrane, water moves
towards solution on account of osmosis. This process continues till osmotic pressure becomes
equal to hydrostatic pressure or osmosis can be stopped by applying external pressure equal
to osmotic pressure on solution. If external pressure greater than osmotic pressure is applied,
the flow of solvent molecules can be made to proceed from solution towards pure solvent,
i.e., in reverse direction of the ordinary osmosis. This type of osmosis is termed reverse
osmosis. Reverse osmosis is used for the desalination of sea water for getting fresh drinking
water.
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Determination of osmotic pressure: Berkeley and Hartley’s method
Various methods are employed for the measurement of osmotic pressure but the best known
method was suggested by Berkeley and Hartley. The apparatus used is shown in Fig. 5.11. A
porcelain tube having copper ferrocyanide membrane in its walls in enclosed in a metallic
jacket. The porcelain tube is fitted with a reservoir of pure solvent at one end and a capillary
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tube at the other end. In a metallic jacket is an arrangement for applying external pressure
Procedure:
The porcelain tube is filled with pure solvent and the metallic jacket with solution. The level
in the capillary tube will tend to move down as the solvent flows towards solution due to
osmosis. External pressure is now applied on the solution by the piston so that level in
capillary remain stationary. The reading of pressure gauge is recorded. This is the osmotic
Advantages:
The concentration of the solution does not change because flow of solvent is not permitted
and the danger of its bursting is eliminated. So, this method can be used to measure high
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de-Vries developed an approximate method for comparing the relative osmotic pressures of
aqueous solutions. A solution of low osmotic pressure is termed hypotonic and solution of
high osmotic pressure is termed hypotonic. The protoplasmic layer, lining the cell walls of
plant cells is easily penetrated by water but us almost impermeable to the substances dissolved
in the cellular fluid. When a plant cell is placed in hypotonic solution, the water is drawn in
and the cell swells. If the cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water will diffuse out of the
cell fluid and partial collapse of the cell will take place when potonic solution is separated
from hypertonic solution using semipermeable membrane then osmosis takes place from
The change in cell can be placed in the solution of same osmotic pressure as that of the cell
fluid, no change in the structure of the cell is observed. Such solutions having some osmotic
pressures are termed isotonic. By putting, therefore, cells of the same kind into solutions of
or isotonic.
Let an aqueous dilute solution filled in a capillary tube is closed at one end by semipermeable
membrane. The tube is placed in pure solvent (water). Entire apparatus is closed by a belljar.
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At osmotic equilibrium, the belljar is saturated with water vapour. At equilibrium osmotic
π=h×d …(i)
Pressure at level L1 = p0; Pressure at level L2 = p. Pressure at L1 will be greater than pressure
at L2. Then
P0 – p = hD …(ii)
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Thus, osmotic pressure is directly proportional to the lowering of vapour pressure.
i.e.
….............(v)
Thus, p/p0 ∝ π, i.e., Osmotic pressure is proportional to relative lowering of vapour pressure.
Since colligative properties depend upon the number of particles of the solute, in some cases
where the solute associates or dissociates in solution, abnormal results for molecular masses
are obtained.
Van't Hoff, in order to account for all abnormal cases introduced a factor i known as the Van't
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ASSOCIATION:
There are many organic solutes which in non-aqueous solutions undergo association, that is,
two or more molecules of the solute associate to form a bigger molecule. Thus, the number
of effective molecules decreases and, consequently the osmotic pressure, the elevation of
boiling point or depression of freezing point, is less than that calculated on the basis of a single
molecule. Two examples are : acetic acid in benzene and chloroacetic acid in naphthalene.
Degree of Association:
The fraction of the total number of molecules which combine to form bigger molecule.
Consider one mole of solute dissolved in a given volume of solvent. Suppose n simple
i.e. nA (A)n
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