Colligative Properties and Solutions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to colligative properties and solutions, which are essential for understanding concepts in chemistry.

Supersaturated Solution

A solution that contains more solute than it can theoretically hold at a given temperature, achieved by dissolving it at a higher temperature and cooling it.

Colligative Properties

Properties of solutions that depend only on the number of solute particles present, not on their identity, including vapor pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, and osmotic pressure.

Mole Fraction (X)

The ratio of the number of moles of a component to the total number of moles of all components in a solution.

Molality (m)

A measure of solute concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per kilogram of solvent.

Boiling Point Elevation (ΔTb)

The increase in boiling point of a solvent when a nonvolatile solute is added, directly proportional to the molality of the solution.

Freezing Point Depression (ΔTf)

The decrease in freezing point of a solvent when a nonvolatile solute is added, directly proportional to the molality of the solution.

Osmosis

The net movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration.

Osmotic Pressure (Π)

The pressure required to stop the flow of solvent into a solution through a semipermeable membrane; related to solute molarity and temperature.

Vapor Pressure Lowering

The reduction in vapor pressure of a solvent upon the addition of a nonvolatile solute.

Raoult's Law

States that the partial vapor pressure of a component in a solution is equal to the vapor pressure of the pure component multiplied by its mole fraction in the solution.

Van't Hoff Factor (i)

The ratio of the number of particles in solution to the number of formula units dissolved, used to account for incomplete dissociation of solutes.

Reverse Osmosis

A process that applies pressure to reverse osmosis, pushing solvent molecules from a more concentrated solution to a less concentrated one.

Ideal Solution

A solution that follows Raoult's law exactly, where the interactions between solute and solvent are similar to those in the pure components.

Antifreeze

Substances, such as ethylene glycol, added to liquids, typically water, to lower the freezing point and prevent freezing.

Mechanical Agitation

The process of stirring or shaking a solution to induce precipitation of solute.

Seed Crystal

A small crystal added to a supersaturated solution to initiate the crystallization process.

Distillation

A separation technique that relies on the differences in boiling points of components in a mixture to purify or separate them.

Cryoscopic Constant (Kf)

A property specific to a solvent that describes the degree to which the freezing point is depressed by a solute.

Ebullioscopic Constant (Kb)

A property specific to a solvent that describes the degree to which the boiling point is elevated by a solute.