NAME: Evan Pfeifer

DATE: 7/27/2016
Colligative Properties in Action: Molar Mass
Determination by Freezing Point Depression
INTRODUCTION/GOALS OF EXPERIMENT
The goal of this experiment is to find the freezing point of several
solutions. Students learn about colligative properties, which are the
properties of a particular solution. I expect that the solutes with higher molar
masses will produce a lower freezing point because of their mass, but all will
be within a few degrees.

RESULTS

Insert your melting point graphs for pure solvent and solution, with
trendlines, here:

Temperature vs Time of Cyclohexane (Trial 1)

9
8
7
6

f(x) = - 0.03x + 7.56

f(x) = 0x + 5.57

Temperature (C) 4
3
2
1
0

20

40

60

80

Time (sec)

100

120

140

Temperature vs Time of Cyclohexane (Trial 2)

7.6
7.4
7.2

f(x) = - 0.07x + 7.7

7
6.8

Temperature (C) 6.6

6.4

f(x) = 0x + 6.37

6.2
6
5.8

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Time (sec)

Temperature vs Time of Naphtalene (Trial 1)

14
12
10
8

Temperature (C)

f(x) = - 0.03x + 10.31

f(x) = - 0.01x + 7.82

6
4
2
0

50

100

150

200

Time (sec)

250

300

350

Temperature vs Time of Naphthalene (Trial 2)

9
8
7
6
5

Temperature (C) 4

f(x)
= =- 0.02x
++
5.88
f(x)
- 0.03x
6.48

3
2
1
0

20

40

60

80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Time (sec)

Temperature vs Time of para-Dichlorobenzene (Trial 1)

12
10
8

Temperature (C)

f(x) = - 0.04x + 9.53

f(x) = - 0.03x + 8.28

6
4
2
0

50

100

150

Time (sec)

200

250

Temperature vs Time of para-Dichlorobenzene (Trial 2)

14
12
10

f(x) = - 0.06x + 12.51

f(x) = - 0.04x + 10.85

Temperature (C)

6
4
2
0

50

100

150

200

250

Time (sec)

From the two freezing points, calculate the molality of your solution:
Naphthalene:__________0.0468_____________m
Para-Dichlorobenzene: __0.0420______________m

Calculate the molar mass of your unknown (show work below):

Naphthalene: __________128 ___________ g/mol
Para-Dichlorobenzene: __ 147

___________ g/mol

Demonstrated calculations
Example: Cyclohexane Trial 1

Intersection time:
x=63.5 s
Freezing point:

0.0307+7.56=0.000500 x +5.57

0.000500 ( 63.5 ) +5.57

1.98=0.0312 x

5.61C

Example: Naphthalene Trial 1

Molality:

0.0300 g
g
128
mol
0.00501kg

Freezing point change:

2.34 x 10 g
0.00501 g

0.0468 m

T f =4.04 C x 0.0468 m

T f =0.189 C /s

g solute
T f (kg solvent )
0.0300 g
MM=4.04 C x
0.189 Cxm (0.00501 kg)

Molar Mass:

MM =K f x

MM=128 g/mol

CONCLUSIONS
Naphthalene has a calculated molar mass of 128 g/mol, which has a
0% error for the actual mass of naphthalene. Its molality is 0.0468 and
produced a freezing point depression of -0.189C/s. Para-Dichlorobenzene
has a calculated molar mass of 147 g/mol, which also has a 0% error from
the value given in the handout. Its molality is 0.420 and gave a freezing
point depression of -0.170C/s. The results suggest that a lower
molality/higher molar mass indicate a smaller change in freezing point. The
goal of this lab was achieved because the freezing point of each tested
solution was found.
Possible errors include improper temperature in the ice and cold baths
and errors in the procedure of the experiments. In regards to the
temperature of the baths, they needed to be replaced by new baths because
the temperature was rising. This could have produced inconsistencies in the
data because each bath would have different amounts of ice and water.
Another possible error can be observed in trial 1 and 2 of cyclohexane. The
freezing points of both are quite different, though the procedures were done
the same. It is possible that the samples of cyclohexane used could be the
affecter. The second trial used a sample from a different bottle of
cyclohexane than the first, so one sample may have been ineffective.