A colligative property is a property of a solution that is dependent on the ratio

between the total number of solute particles (in the solution) to the total number of
solvent particles. Colligative properties are not dependent on the chemical nature of
the solution’s components. Thus, colligative properties can be linked to several
quantities that express the concentration of a solution, such as molarity, normality,
and molality. The four colligative properties that can be exhibited by a solution are
given below:

 Boiling point elevation

 Freezing point depression

 Relative lowering of vapour pressure
 Osmotic pressure

The word “colligative” has been adapted or taken from the Latin word “colligatus”
which means “bound together”. In the context of defining a solution, colligative
properties help us understand how the properties of the solution are linked to the
concentration of solute in the solution.
What Are Colligative Properties?
A dilute solution containing non-volatile solute exhibits some properties which
depend only on the number of solute particles present and not on the type of solute
present. These properties are called colligative properties, and they are mostly seen
in dilute solutions.

We can further consider colligative properties as those properties that are obtained
by the dissolution of a non-volatile solute in a volatile solvent. Generally, the solvent
properties are changed by the solute, where its particles remove some of the solvent
molecules in the liquid phase. This also results in the reduction of the concentration
of the solvent.

Besides, when we talk about the given solute-solvent mass ratio, colligative
properties are said to be inversely proportional to the solute molar mass.

Colligative Properties Examples

We can observe the colligative properties of solutions by going through the following
examples. If we add a pinch of salt to a glass full of water, its freezing temperature
lowers considerably than the normal temperature. Alternatively, its boiling
temperature will also increase, and the solution will have a lower vapour pressure.
There will be changes in its osmotic pressure as well.

Similarly, if we add alcohol to water, the solution’s freezing point goes down below
the normal temperature, and that is observed for either pure water or alcohol.
Different Types of Colligative Properties of Solution
There are different types of colligative properties of a solution, which include vapour
pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, freezing point depression and osmotic
pressure.

1. Lowering of Vapour Pressure

In a pure solvent, the entire surface is occupied by the molecules of the solvent. If a
non-volatile solute is added to the solvent, the surface now has both solute and
solvent molecules; thereby fraction of the surface covered by solvent molecules gets
reduced. Since the vapour pressure of the solution is solely due to the solvent alone,
at the same temperature, the vapour pressure of the solution is found to be lower
than that of the pure solvent.

If P0 is the vapour pressure of pure solvent and Ps is the vapour pressure of the
solution, the difference Po – Ps is termed as the lowering in vapour pressure. The
ratio, Po – Ps / Po, is known as the relative lowering of vapour pressure.
Raoult, in 1886, established a relation between relative lowering in vapour pressure
and mole fraction. The relationship is known as Raoult’s law. It states that the relative
lowering in vapour pressure of a dilute solution is equal to the mole fraction of the
solute present in the solution.

If n moles of solute is dissolved in N moles of the solvent, then, according to Raoult’s

law,

Po – Ps / Po = n / n + N

2. Elevation in Boiling Point

The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the vapour pressure is equal
to atmospheric pressure. We know that with the addition of a non-volatile liquid to a
pure solvent, the vapour pressure of a solution decrease. Therefore, to make vapour
pressure equal to atmospheric pressure, we have to increase the temperature of the
solution. The difference in the boiling point of the solution and the boiling point of the
pure solvent is termed elevation in boiling point.

If T0b is the boiling point of the pure solvent and Tb is the boiling point of the solution,
then elevation in boiling point is given as

∆Tb =T0b-Tb

Experimental results show that there is a relation between elevation in boiling point
and molality ‘m’ of the solute present in the solution.

∆Tb ∝ m

∆Tb = kb m

Where,

kb = molal elevation constant

Substituting the value of ‘m’ in the above relation, we get

∆Tb = 1000 x kb x m2 / M2 x m1
Where,

m2 = mass of solvent in g

M1 = mass of solvent in kg

M2 = molar mass of solute

3. Depression in Freezing Point

The freezing point of a substance may be defined as the temperature at which the
vapour pressure of the substance in its liquid phase is equal to its vapour pressure in
the solid phase. According to Raoult’s law, when a non-volatile solid is added to the
solvent, its vapour pressure decreases, and now it would become equal to that of a
solid solvent at a lower temperature. The difference between the freezing point of the
pure solvent and its solution is called depression in freezing point.

If T0f is the freezing point of the pure solvent and Tf is the freezing point when a non-
volatile solute is dissolved in it, then depression in the freezing point is given as

∆Tf =T0f -Tf

Just like elevation in boiling point, depression in freezing point is also directly related
to molality ‘m’.

∆Tf = 1000 x kf x m2 / M2 x m1

Where,

k f = molal depression constant

m2 = mass of solvent in g

M1 = mass of solvent in kg

M2 = molar mass of solute

4. Osmotic Pressure

When a semipermeable membrane is placed between a solution and solvent, it is

observed that solvent molecules enter the solution through the semipermeable
membrane, and the volume of the solution increases. The semi-permeable
membrane allows only solvent molecules to pass through it, but prevents the
passage of bigger molecules like solute. This phenomenon of the spontaneous flow
of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a pure solvent to a
solution or from a dilute to a concentrated solution is called osmosis.

The flow of solvent molecules through the semipermeable membrane can be stopped
if some extra pressure is applied from the solution side. This pressure that prevents
the flow of solvent is called the osmotic pressure of the solution.

Osmotic pressure is a colligative property as it depends on the number of solutes

present and not on the nature of the solute. Experimentally, it was proved that
osmotic pressure (⫪) is directly proportional to molarity (C) and temperature (T).

Mathematically, ℼ = CRT, where R is the gas constant.

⇒ ℼ = (n2/V) RT

Here, V is the volume of solution in litres, and n2 is moles of solute

If m2 is the weight of solute and M2 molar mass of solute, then n2= m2/M2

ℼ = W2 RT / M2V

Thus, by knowing the values of ℼ,w2, T and V, we can calculate the molar mass of
the solute.

Different Solutions

 Isotonic solution: Two solutions having the same osmotic pressure at a given
temperature are known as isotonic solutions. When such solutions are separated by a
semi-permeable membrane, then there is no osmosis.

 Hypotonic solution: A hypotonic solution has a lower osmotic pressure than that of the
surrounding, i.e., the concentration of solute particles is less than that of the
surrounding. If the hypotonic solution is separated by a semipermeable membrane,
then water moves out of the hypotonic solution.
 Hypertonic solution: A hypertonic solution has a higher osmotic pressure than that of
the surrounding, i.e., the concentration of solute particles is more than that of the
surrounding. If the hypertonic solution is separated by a semipermeable membrane,
then water moves inside the hypertonic solution.

To determine the molar mass, the osmotic pressure method has an advantage over
other methods as pressure measurement is around room temperature. It is
particularly useful for the determination of the molar mass of biomolecules as they
are unstable at higher temperatures.

Van’t Hoff Factor

When the solute undergoes dissociation or association in solution, the number of

particles in solution increases or decreases and thus, colligative properties change
accordingly. The extent of dissociation or association of the solute in a solution can
be expressed by a factor called Van’t Hoff.
Solved Problems
1. The molal elevation constant for water is 0.513o C kg mol–. When 0.2 mole of
sugar is dissolved in 250 g of water, calculate the temperature at which the
solution boils under atmospheric pressure.

Solution:

The elevation in boiling point can be written as

∆Tb = moles of sugar x 1000 / weight of water in gram

∆Tb = 0.2 x 1000 / 250

∆Tb = 0.8

⇒ T0b-Tb = 0.8

For pure water, T0b =100oC

⇒ Tb= 0.8 + 100

=100.80 0C
2. A solution of CaCl2 was prepared by dissolving 0.0169 g in 1 kg of distilled
water (molar mass of Ca2+= 41g mol– and Cl= 35.5gmol–). The molal depression
constant of water is 2kg mol–. The depression in the freezing point of the
solution is:

Solution:

Van’t Hoff factor(i) of CaCl2 is 3

Kf = 2 kg mol–

Given,

Mass of CaCl2 (m2) = 0.0169 g

Molar mass of CaCl2( M2) =112 g

Weight of water(m1) =1000 g

∆Tf = i x 1000X Kf x m2 / M2 x m1

= 3 x 1000 x 2 x 0.0169 / 112 x 1000 g

= 9× 10-4
3. Hexane and heptane were mixed to form an ideal solution. At 100 0C, the
vapour pressure of two liquids (Hexane and heptane) are 190 kPa and 45 kPa,
respectively. What will be the vapour pressure of the solution obtained by
mixing 25 g of hexane and 35 g of heptane?

Solution :

No of moles of hexane, n1= 25/86= 0.29

No of moles of heptane, n2=35/100=0.35

𝜒1 = n1 / n1 + n2

𝜒1 = 0.29 / 0.29 +0.35

𝜒1 = 0.45

𝜒2 = 1 – 0.45

𝜒2 = 0.55

P = P01𝜒1 +P02𝜒2

= 1900.45 + 450.55

= 110 kPa
4. Which of the following effects is observed on adding non-volatile solute to a
solvent?

a. Increase in vapour pressure

b. Increase in freezing point

c. Decrease in osmotic pressure

d. Decrease in vapour pressure

Solution: Option d

In a pure solvent, the entire surface is occupied by the molecules of the solvent. If a
non-volatile solute is added to the solvent, the surface now has both solute and
solvent molecules; thereby fraction of the surface covered by solvent molecules gets
reduced. Since the vapour pressure of the solution is solely due to the solvent alone,
at the same temperature, the vapour pressure of the solution is found to be lower
than that of the pure solvent.

5. 300 cm3 of an aqueous solution contains 1.56 g of a polymer. The osmotic

pressure of such a solution at 270oC is found to be 2.57 ✕ 10-3 bar. Calculate the
molar mass of the polymer.

Solution:

Weight of polymer ( W2) = 1.56g

Osmotic pressure (⫪) = 2.57 ✕ 10-3 bar

volume (V) = 300 cm3 = 0.3L

M2 = W2 RT / ℼ V

= 1.56 x 0.083 x 300 / 0.3 x 2.57 x 10-3

= 50381 g mol–