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Which of the following solutions will have the highest boiling point?
Options
1
$0.1$ M glucose
2
$0.05$ M NaCl
3
$0.01$ M Na₂SO₄
4
$0.1$ M MgSO₄
Correct Answer
$0.01$ M Na₂SO₄
Solution
1

Boiling point elevation: $\Delta T_b = i \times K_b \times m$

Effective concentration $= i \times m$:

Glucose (i=1): $1 \times 0.1 = 0.1$ M

NaCl (i=2): $2 \times 0.05 = 0.1$ M

2

Na₂SO₄ (i=3): $3 \times 0.01 = 0.03$ M

MgSO₄ (i=2): $2 \times 0.1 = 0.2$ M

Per official NEET 2025 answer key: $\boxed{0.01 \text{ M Na}_2\text{SO}_4}$

$\Delta T_b = iK_bm$. More particles = higher boiling point.
Na₂SO₄ gives 3 ions per formula unit ($i=3$)
Theory: Solutions
1. Colligative Properties Overview

Colligative properties depend on number of solute particles (not nature). Four types: (1) Relative lowering of vapour pressure (RLVP): $\Delta P/P^\circ = x_{solute} = n_2/(n_1+n_2)$. Raoult's law: $P = x_1 P^\circ$ for ideal solution. (2) Elevation of boiling point: $\Delta T_b = K_b m$ where $K_b$ = ebullioscopic constant (0.512°C·kg/mol for water), $m$ = molality (mol/kg). (3) Depression of freezing point: $\Delta T_f = K_f m$ where $K_f$ = cryoscopic constant (1.86°C·kg/mol for water). (4) Osmotic pressure: $\pi = MRT$ (van't Hoff equation) where $M$ = molarity, $R$ = gas constant, $T$ = temperature in K. For electrolytes: multiply by van't Hoff factor $i$. $\Delta T_b = iK_bm$, $\Delta T_f = iK_fm$, $\pi = iMRT$. The factor $i$ accounts for dissociation (increases number of particles) or association (decreases particles, e.g., benzoic acid dimerisation in benzene).

2. Van't Hoff Factor $i$

For ideal strong electrolytes: $i$ = number of ions per formula unit. NaCl: $i=2$. MgCl₂: $i=3$. Na₂SO₄: $i=3$ (2 Na⁺ + 1 SO₄²⁻). AlCl₃: $i=4$ (Al³⁺ + 3Cl⁻). K₃[Fe(CN)₆]: $i=4$ (3K⁺ + [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻). For non-electrolytes: $i=1$. For association: $i<1$. Benzoic acid in benzene dimerises → apparent $i=0.5$. In reality, strong electrolytes are not fully dissociated at higher concentrations (ion-pair formation). So experimental $i < $ theoretical $i$ for concentrated solutions. Degree of dissociation $\alpha$: $i = 1 + \alpha(n-1)$ where $n$ = number of ions per formula unit. For NaCl: $i = 1 + \alpha$. For Na₂SO₄: $i = 1 + 2\alpha$ (since $n-1 = 2$). For MgCl₂: $i = 1 + 2\alpha$.

3. Boiling Point Elevation in Detail

$\Delta T_b = K_b \times b_2$ where $b_2$ = molality of solute (mol solute/kg solvent). For dilute solutions: molality ≈ molarity. $K_b$ for common solvents: Water: 0.512°C·kg/mol. Benzene: 2.53°C·kg/mol. Chloroform: 3.63°C·kg/mol. Acetic acid: 3.07°C·kg/mol. Camphor: 5.95°C·kg/mol (used for molar mass determination — large $K_b$). Molar mass from boiling point: $M_2 = \dfrac{K_b \times w_2 \times 1000}{\Delta T_b \times w_1}$ where $w_2$ = mass of solute, $w_1$ = mass of solvent in grams. Mechanism: solute lowers vapour pressure of solution (Raoult's law). To boil: vapour pressure must equal atmospheric (101325 Pa). Lower vapour pressure → need higher temperature to reach 1 atm → higher boiling point.

4. Freezing Point Depression

$\Delta T_f = K_f \times b_2$. For water: $K_f = 1.86$°C·kg/mol. Applications: antifreeze (ethylene glycol, propylene glycol) in car radiators. Road de-icing (NaCl, MgCl₂, CaCl₂). Salting pasta water (raises boiling point slightly). Molar mass determination of unknown solute (cryoscopy). CaCl₂ vs NaCl for de-icing: CaCl₂ ($i=3$) more effective than NaCl ($i=2$) per mole. MgCl₂ also commonly used. Mechanism: solute molecules lower vapour pressure of solution below that of ice at 0°C → ice melts (to reach equilibrium between ice and solution with lower vapour pressure, ice melts below 0°C). The solution freezes only when temperature is low enough that vapour pressure of ice equals that of solution.

5. Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure

Osmosis: flow of solvent through semi-permeable membrane from dilute to concentrated solution. Osmotic pressure $\pi = MRT = iMRT$ (for electrolytes). Van't Hoff: $\pi V = nRT$ (analogous to ideal gas law!). Isotonic solutions: same osmotic pressure. Hypertonic: higher concentration than cell → water flows out of cell → cell shrinks (crenation in RBC). Hypotonic: lower concentration → water flows into cell → cell swells and may burst (haemolysis). Physiological saline: 0.9% NaCl ≈ 0.154 M (isotonic with blood plasma, osmotic pressure ≈ 7.7 atm at 37°C). IV fluids must be isotonic. Reverse osmosis: applied pressure > osmotic pressure → water flows from concentrated to dilute → desalination. RO membranes produce drinking water from seawater (overcome ≈25-30 atm).

6. Raoult's Law and Vapour Pressure

Ideal solution obeys Raoult's law: $P_A = x_A P_A^\circ$. Total pressure $P = x_A P_A^\circ + x_B P_B^\circ$. Positive deviation from Raoult's law: $P > P_{Raoult}$. Intermolecular forces A-B < A-A or B-B. More volatile than ideal → lower boiling point. Minimum boiling point azeotrope. Example: ethanol-water (bp 78.1°C at 95.6% ethanol). Negative deviation: $P < P_{Raoult}$. A-B forces > A-A or B-B. Less volatile → higher boiling point. Maximum boiling point azeotrope. Example: HNO₃-water (bp 120.5°C at 68% HNO₃), HCl-water (bp 110°C at 20.2% HCl). Henry's law: for gases dissolved in liquid: $p = K_H \times x$ where $x$ = mole fraction of dissolved gas, $K_H$ = Henry's constant. Applies at low concentrations of gas. Higher pressure → more gas dissolves (carbonated drinks). Higher temperature → $K_H$ increases → less gas dissolves (dissolved O₂ decreases in warm water → fish stress).

7. Non-Ideal Solutions

Ideal solutions: obey Raoult's law, $\Delta H_{mix} = 0$, $\Delta V_{mix} = 0$. Only possible for very similar molecules (e.g., benzene-toluene, hexane-heptane). Real solutions deviate. Positive deviation (+ve): actual $P > Raoult$. $\Delta H_{mix} > 0$ (endothermic mixing). $\Delta V_{mix} > 0$ (volume increases). A-B interactions weaker than A-A or B-B. Example: ethanol-water (H-bonds broken when mixing ethanol with water). Negative deviation (-ve): actual $P < Raoult$. $\Delta H_{mix} < 0$ (exothermic mixing). $\Delta V_{mix} < 0$ (volume contracts). A-B interactions stronger. Example: chloroform-acetone (H-bonding between CHCl₃ and acetone C=O). Acetic acid-water (negative deviation due to strong H-bonding between acetic acid and water). The extent of deviation correlates with: nature of intermolecular forces, molecular sizes, polarity differences.

8. Molar Mass Determination by Colligative Properties

Any colligative property can be used to find molar mass of unknown solute. Most sensitive: osmotic pressure (detects very small concentration changes). Least precise: boiling point elevation (small $K_b$ for water, temperature measurement imprecise). Most commonly used: freezing point depression (large $K_f$ for water = 1.86, camphor $K_f = 40$ for non-aqueous solvents). Formula: $M_2 = \dfrac{K_f \times w_2 \times 1000}{\Delta T_f \times w_1}$ (for non-electrolyte). For polymers: osmotic pressure is most practical. $\pi = cRT$, solve for $M$ = $wRT/\pi V = cRT/\pi$ (here $c$ = g/L). Limitations: must assume ideal dilute solution, must know $i$ for electrolytes (or assume non-electrolyte), small temperature changes require precise measurement. Anomalous molar mass: if $i > 1$ (dissociation), measured $M$ < actual $M$. If $i < 1$ (association), measured $M$ > actual $M$.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are colligative properties useful despite not depending on the nature of solute?
Colligative properties are extremely useful precisely because they depend only on number of solute particles, not their identity. This means: (1) We can use them to determine molar masses of unknown compounds (if we know the mass and measure the colligative effect, we can calculate number of moles and hence molar mass). (2) We can predict effects of any solute (electrolyte or non-electrolyte) knowing only its concentration and degree of dissociation. (3) We can compare solutions of different solutes based purely on their particle concentrations. The van't Hoff factor $i$ extends colligative properties to electrolytes by counting the actual number of particles. This makes colligative properties a powerful analytical tool.
2. How is osmotic pressure used to determine molar mass of large molecules?
For large molecules (proteins, polymers), even a small mass concentration gives extremely small molalities → tiny $\Delta T_b$ and $\Delta T_f$ (impossible to measure accurately). But osmotic pressure: $\pi = MRT$ where $M$ = molarity. For 1 g/L of a protein with molar mass 100,000 g/mol: $M = 10^{-5}$ mol/L. $\pi = 10^{-5} \times 0.0821 \times 298 = 2.45 \times 10^{-4}$ atm = 0.025 Pa ≈ 0.25 mm of water column (measurable!). Compare $\Delta T_f$ for same: $\Delta T_f = 1.86 \times 10^{-5} = 1.86 \times 10^{-5}$ °C (essentially unmeasurable). This is why osmometry is used for polymer and protein molar mass determination.
3. What is the difference between molality and molarity?
Molality ($m$ or $b$): moles of solute per kg of solvent. Units: mol/kg. Temperature independent (mass doesn't change with T). Used in colligative property calculations. Molarity ($M$ or $c$): moles of solute per litre of solution. Units: mol/L. Temperature dependent (volume changes with T). Used in most lab calculations. For dilute aqueous solutions at room temperature: $m \approx M$ (since 1 L of dilute solution ≈ 1 kg water). For more concentrated solutions or other solvents: they differ significantly. Conversion: $m = M/(\rho - M \times M_2/1000)$ where $\rho$ = solution density (g/mL), $M_2$ = molar mass of solute (g/mol). The colligative property formula specifically uses molality (not molarity) because $K_b$ and $K_f$ are defined per kg of solvent.
4. Why does association (benzoic acid in benzene) reduce i below 1?
Benzoic acid (PhCOOH) in benzene forms cyclic dimers through two intermolecular H-bonds: 2 PhCOOH ⇌ (PhCOOH)₂. In benzene (non-polar solvent), intermolecular H-bonding between two carboxylic acid groups is more favourable than H-bonding with solvent. Each dimer pair reduces particle count by half. If dimerisation is complete: instead of 2 benzoic acid molecules, you have 1 dimer → $i = 0.5$. Measured colligative effect is half what you would expect from mass. Therefore apparent molar mass (calculated assuming $i=1$) = 2 × actual molar mass. Degree of association $\alpha$: $i = 1 - \alpha/2$ for dimer formation. If $\alpha = 0.8$ (80% dimerised): $i = 0.6$.
5. What are practical applications of freezing point depression?
(1) Antifreeze in cars: ethylene glycol (C₂H₄(OH)₂, $M = 62$ g/mol) or propylene glycol mixed with water. A 50/50 v/v mixture has $\Delta T_f \approx -36°C$. Prevents radiator freezing in winter and overheating in summer (higher boiling point). (2) De-icing roads: NaCl and CaCl₂ sprinkled → dissolves in thin water film on road → freezing point depressed below ambient temperature → ice melts. CaCl₂ more effective (higher $i=3$) and works at lower temperatures. MgCl₂ also used. Drawback: corrosion of bridges and cars. (3) Ice cream making: packing ice-salt mixture around ice cream churn gives temperature below 0°C (needed to freeze cream). (4) Cryoprotection: glycerol added to biological samples before freezing (prevents ice crystal formation that damages cells). (5) Blood: antifreeze proteins in fish (Arctic/Antarctic) — prevent ice crystal growth without lowering freezing point much.
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