Question
3.9 g of benzoic acid dissolved in 49 g of benzene shows a depression in freezing point of 1.62 K. Calculate the van't Hoff factor and predict the nature of solute (associated or dissociated).
(Given: Molar mass of benzoic acid = 122 g mol-1, Kf for benzene = 4.9 K kg mol-1
Solution
We know that the depression in freezing point is given by
Here
Depression in freezing point K
Kf for benzene=4.9kg mol-1
Mass of benzene W=49g
Molar mass of benzoic acid ms = 122g mol-1
Substituting the value we get
1.62 =
As the value of i<1 benzoic acid is associated solute.