Answer
Colligative properties are properties that depend only upon the number of solute particles and not upon their identities. Three colligative properties are vapor pressure lowering, freezing point depression, and boiling point elevation. Vapor pressure lowering and boiling point elevation occur because the solute particles reduce the number of free solvent particles that are able to escape the liquid. This results in the liquid particles having less kinetic energy than in pure solvent. Similarly, in freezing point depression more kinetic energy must be withdrawn from the solution than from pure solvent to cause the solution to solidify.
Work Step by Step
Colligative properties are properties that depend only upon the number of solute particles and not upon their identities. Three colligative properties are vapor pressure lowering, freezing point depression, and boiling point elevation. Vapor pressure lowering and boiling point elevation occur because the solute particles reduce the number of free solvent particles that are able to escape the liquid. This results in the liquid particles having less kinetic energy than in pure solvent. Similarly, in freezing point depression more kinetic energy must be withdrawn from the solution than from pure solvent to cause the solution to solidify.
