| Themes > Science > Chemistry > General Chemistry > Solution and Solubility > Solubility and Redox Reactions > Freezing Point and Boiling Point Change > Freezing Point Depression |
As we already know, the addition of a solute affects the vapor pressure of a liquid solvent. Since changes of state depend on vapor pressure, the presence of a solute also affects the freezing point and boiling point of a solvent. Thus, with the addition of a solute to a solvent, the freezing point of the solution is lower than the freezing point of the pure solvent. This is because the vapor pressure of the newly formed solution is less than the vapor pressure of the solidified form of the solution. For example, water freezes at 0 degrees centigrade. At that temperature, the vapor pressures of the ice and the water are the same. But, when the solute is added, the vapor pressure of the liquid solution is less than that of ice, and thus it does not freeze and the freezing point is depressed. This situation can be represented by an equation: with Kf being the molal freezing point depression constant, and the msolute being the molality of the solute in the solution. Getting back to the salt on the ice, it should also be noted that salt is not useful if the temperature gets lower than the freezing point depression, because it cannot be used under extreme cold temperatures. |
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