Freezing-point depression

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Freezing-point depression is the difference between the freezing points of a pure solvent and a solution mixed with a solute. It is directly proportional to the molal concentration of the solution, or more precisely, to the solute activity, according to the equation:

ΔTf = i · Kf · activity

Examples:

Freezing-point depression can be used to measure the degree of dissociation, the activity, or the molar mass of the solute, although this particular process, called cryoscopy (Greek "freeze-viewing"), is not as common as it once was. It was still taught as a useful analytic procedure in Cohen's Practical Organic Chemistry of 1910,[1] in which the molar mass of napthalene is determined in a so-called Beckmann freezing apparatus.

Freezing-point depressions occur whenever a solute is added to a pure solution, such as water. This is due to solute molecules disrupting the ability of the solvent to form crystals during the freezing process. Because of this, the liquid range of solvent is increased resulting in a freezing point depression.