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Seawater is about 3.5% by mass dissolved solids, mostly NaCl. If `Delta"T"_"b" = "iK"_"b" "m"` and Kb for water is 0.52°C/m, what is the boiling point elevation of seawater?

User AngryBoy
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1 Answer

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Answer: 0.64°C.


Step-by-step explanation:


The boiling point elevation of a solution with a non volatile solute is a colligative property.


A colligative property is a physical property of a solution that depends on the number of dissolved particles of solute.


As such, the elevarion of the boiling point may be estimated by the equation:


ΔTb = i × Kb × m, where:

  • ΔTb is the elevation of the boiling point,
  • i is the Van't Hoof factor for ionic compounds and is equal to the number of ions produced by one unit formula of compound. For NaCl it is 2: 1 for Na⁺ and 1 for Cl⁻,
  • Kb is the molal constant of the solvent, which is given: is 0.52 °C/m
  • m is the molality.

To use the formula we must calculate the molality of 3.5% seawater, considereing that the solute is NaCl.


Calculation of molality:


  • Formula: m = number of moles of solute / kg of solvent
  • basis: 100 g of solution (this is the easiest way to compute m when you know mass %)
  • mass of solute: 3.5 g
  • molar mass of NaCl: 58.44 g/mol
  • number of moles = mass in grams / molar mass = 3.5g / 58.44g/mol = 0.060 moles
  • mass of solvent = 100 g solution - 3.5 g solute = 97.5 g of solvent
  • mass of solvent in kg = 97.5g / (1000 g/kg) = 0.0975 kg
  • m = 0.060 moles of NaCl / 0.0975 kg of water = 0.62 m

Calculation of ΔTb:


ΔTb = 2 × 0.52°C/m × 0.62 m = 0.64 °C.

User Mickey Puri
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