Sample Lab Write Up

Name: S.R.
Title: Experiment 15 Colligative Properties: Freezing-Point Depression and Molar Mass
Purpose: Colligative properties are extensive physical properties that are dependent upon the
quantity of solute in a given solution, not the identity of the solution itself or its constituents. Such
properties or characteristics of a substance include boiling point elevation, freezing point
depression, osmotic pressure, and vapor pressure lowering. Application of colligative properties is
beyond the realm of the chemistry laboratory as in daily life it is used to alter these specific
properties of substances given n amount of dissolved solute in a liquid medium. Identifying key
relationships between the four colligative properties allows one to manipulate the melting point,
freezing point, and boiling point of a substance. Adding or reducing a specific amount of reagent
solid, liquid, or gas solute can possibly significantly affect the overall behavior of the solvent,
which is the practical scope of this experiment, specifically when exploring the relationship
between freezing point depression and amount of substance.
Procedure Modifications: The procedure was carried out as per the lab manuals instructions for the
experiment. The manual divides this experiment into two parts; A and B. In A, a large test tube and supporting
beaker were gathered and tared to 0.00g on an electric balance to prevent any mass other than succinonitrile
from being factored into the experimental mass. Once tared, approximately 15g of succinonitrile was added to
the test tube and an apparatus for the determination of cooling curves as labeled in Figure 15.3 of the lab
manual was constructed, meanwhile. Due to a lack of precise measuring devices, only a simple, glass
thermometer was forced in carefully into the slit hole of the rubber stopper to measure temperature changes
over the course of the experiment. Then, a 600-mL beaker was filled almost to the brim or full capacity with
standard tap water and heated until a temperature of 65 degrees Celsius was reached. The test tube containing
the succinonitrile was then attached to the assembled apparatus to the point where only the part of the tube
containing the succinonitrile was submerged while the rest of the test tube remained suspended above the
water. Heating the substance to this temperature allowed most of it to melt. The succinonitrile was stirred until
all of it had melted in the test tube and then immediately removed from heat and the outside of the test tube
was dried. The tube was then set aside to rest in an accommodating wide-mouthed glass container with
protective barrier/insulation between the test tube and the inside base of the glass. The liquid succinonitrile
was then stirred constantly without the addition of any heat until its freezing point was reached and it could no
longer be stirred. The temperature of the succinonitrile was recorded every 30 seconds until completely
freezing with a glass thermometer to provide data points for the future construction of a cooling curve. In B,
the succinonitrile was again melted fully and other methods were employed to determine the mass of a
supposed unknown, although no measures were taken to complete this portion of the experiment due to a lack
of time and resources.
Observations: Due to a lack of material for this particular experiment, the succinonitrile called for in this
procedure was replaced with 7g naphthalene and 1g of t-butanyol. With these substitutes, a result similar to the
desired test substance was not expected, but in combination, both the t-butanyol and naphthalene were
expected to cool at room temperature or higher at least and boil beyond 65 degrees Celsius, as predicted given
the data in Table 15.1. These two substances did form a translucent, solid of gel-like consistency after being
removed from heat and stirred to accumulate data for the creation of cooling curves with record of time and
temperature. In both trials, the solutions froze just above 62 degrees Celsius, indicating that the freezing point
lied in the range of 60-64 degrees Celsius with this concentration. Group 1 data showed more signs of
temperature fluctuation in the cooling process while Group 2 data was more consistent. It seemed that the first

trial contained more than the necessary 8g of substance, as requested by the instructor. Pure t-butanyol was not
tested for comparison in both trials, yielding an incomplete analysis of proper/accurate results in this
experiment.
Results: Analysis of observations and calculations from the cooling curves below indicated the freezing of the
naphthalene and t-butanyol mixture was just under 64 degrees in any given trial. All substances took
approximately 300 seconds, or 5 minutes, before further stirring could not be completed and the mixture
solidified. It seems that the substances measured in cooling curve 1, although supposedly nearly equal in
amount, possessed a starting temperature, or boiling point that was much higher than that of the second trial,
meaning that there lied a possibility that more solute was included in the first solution than in the second. This
experiment helps identify the relationship between boiling point, freezing point, and amount of substance. The
greater the amount of substance, the elevated the boiling point and lower the freezing point. The reciprocal of
this statement also holds true.
Cooling Curve Data
Trial 1 (group 1 data)
Trial 2 (group 2 data)
Temperature (oC) Time (sec)
Temperature (oC) Time (sec)
79
0
70
0
78
30
70
30
75
60
68
60
71
90
68
90
69
120
67
120
67
150
67
150
67
180
66
180
67
210
65
210
66
240
64
240
66
270
64
270
65
300
63
300

Error Analysis:
Improper following of the procedure, human error, and equipment limitations were all sources of error in this
experiment. Contrary to the trial requirements of the lab, as specified in the Procedure Modifications, enough
trials were not completed in order to perform calculations and analysis; rather, two extended trials following

the procedure in part A of this experiment were performed per group (each group was assigned a trial) in
order to achieve the final results provided. The experiments purpose was to investigate the relationship
between the freezing point depression and molar mass of pure succinonitrile and its unknown solute in a less
pure solution. An unknown was not provided for this experiment to compute any molar masses and neither
was succinonitrile. This substance was replaced with 7 grams of naphthalene and 1 gram of t-butanyol, which
were the closest substances to receiving the expected results in combination. To determine an accurate
temperature difference, uncalibrated thermometers were utilized and no control involving a pure solution of tbutanyol was tested alongside the two trial groups for proper comparison of results. There was a lack of
equipment in the lab stations to fully complete the procedure and lab stations themselves were unkempt. Due
to the inadequacy and inconsistency of measurements, expected results for the cooling curves were not
obtained. Human error in calculation and imprecise instruments used in measurements also may have led to
deviations in results from accuracy. Although this experiment was evidently incomplete, distinct relationships
between colligative properties were confirmed with these data and observations.
Conclusion: Upon examination of observations and recorded results, the experiment was not completed
thoroughly enough to establish or draw any final conclusions. With uncalibrated equipment and incorrect
methods and test substances accompanied by significant human error, any results of substance in this
experiment are rendered inaccurate. Although such limitations persisted throughout the experiment, the overall
purpose of the experiment was clearly understood. According to the results, freezing point decreases with
increasing boiling point caused by a greater amount of solute or molality. Therefore freezing point inversely
proportional to boiling point and moles of substance.

Sources Used:
1. Cottrell, Peter T., Jesse Edwards, and Richard A. Ford, Jr. " Experiment 15
Colligative Properties: Freezing-Point Depression and Molar Mass"
Experiments In General Chemistry. 6th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 141-148. Print.