Final answer:
The free-energy change during diffusion of nonelectrolytes depends on the concentration gradient and resultant osmotic pressure, which are linked to colligative properties governed by the total number of dissolved particles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The free-energy change during diffusion of nonelectrolytes is influenced by the solute concentration gradient and the osmotic pressure generated as a result of this concentration difference. During diffusion, molecules move from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached, a process driven by a decrease in free energy or Gibbs free energy. Since nonelectrolytes do not dissociate into ions in solution, each molecule contributes as a single particle, influencing the colligative properties such as osmotic pressure, boiling point elevation, and freezing point depression based on the total number of dissolved particles.
Regarding nonelectrolytes, the osmotic pressure of a solution is directly proportional to the number of solute particles present, which means that the free-energy change during diffusion will depend on the concentration difference across a semipermeable membrane, affecting the osmotic pressure. Ultimately, colligative properties are central to understanding how nonelectrolytes influence the physical properties of solutions through the number of solute particles present, rather than their specific identity or molecular size.