DETERMINATION OF FREEZING POINT DEPRESSION

ALLAN S. TAMPUS JR.

Department of Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture

Cebu Institute of Technology -University

N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

The experiment was conducted to determine the freezing point depression of a solvent
when added with a solute. This solution with the known solvent will be used to determine the
molecular weight of the solute. A measuring device is used in measuring the freezing point.
This measuring device is called Beckmann Thermometer. This thermometer is known for
providing precise reading of the change in temperature.
4.1 Introduction

The purpose of the experiment is to measure the freezing point depression of a pure
solvent when added with a solute which can be used to obtain the molecular weight of an
unknown solute. The device used that can measure the freezing point depression is called
Beckmann thermometer. It is used for measuring small differences in temperature, having a
readability of around 0.001°C. This makes it useful for the determination of melting points,
boiling points and calorimetry. It measures the change in temperature, may it be elevation or
lowering, of a solution. The range of the readings can then be controlled depending on the
experiment to be performed. It contains two storage of mercury inside its tube, which are the
reservoir and the base. What makes it different from other types of thermometers is that it has a
reservoir that can store excess mercury.
Figure 6.1.1 Beckmann Diffferential Thermometer

The vapor pressure of the solvent is lowered whenever a substance is dissolved in a

solvent. The freezing point of a solution is less than the freezing point of the pure solvent. In
connection with this, the solution must be cooled to a lower temperature that the pure solvent in
order for freezing to occur. The extent of the freezing point depression depends on the
concentration that holds the following solutions:

1000 K f g
M=
G∆Tf
Where M = molecular weight
Kf = cryoscopic constant
g =grams of solute
G = grams of solvent
Tf= freezing point depression

Any error due to change in concentration is avoided by determining the concentration in

equilibrium with the solid phase at the temperature recorded. Satisfactory results can be
obtained, however, by weighing out solute and solvent to give a known initial concentration,
provided that super cooling is kept to a low by seeding with a small crystal of the solid phase at
the proper temperature.
4.2 Materials and Methods
 The Beckmann thermometer (see figure 6.1.1) is calibrated for measuring the freezing
point. Sufficient amount of mercury was left in its bulb and stem in order to give the required
temperature readings between the required temperatures. First, the thermometer was gently
tapped and inverted so that the mercury in the reservoir lodges in the bend B at the end of the
stem. Then, the bulb was heated and the mercury of the stem was connected to the mercury of
the reservoir. It was then allowed to cool down to room temperature and afterwards it was
immersed in a bath containing a mixture of ice and water. The scale is set within one or two
degrees of the upper limit of temperatures to be measured. The mercury thread was separated by
tapping. The thermometer is now set for temperature readings.

About 50 ml of the solvent was pipetted into the quartz tube. The thermometer was
submerged inside the quartz tube and the solvent was cooled to 1 degree above its freezing point
by putting crushed ice around the quartz tube. Temperature readings are taken every 30 seconds.
After the freezing point measurement of the pure solvent, 2 g of the unknown sample was
introduced into the quartz tube. The sample was dissolved and its freezing point was measured in
the same way as with the pure solvent. The step was repeated by changing the unknown sample
to 2 g.A series of temperature reading was obtained which gave a curve when plotted against
time. A plot is called a cooling curve.

4.3 Results
Pure Solvent:
 Time (min)
Temp (oC)
0 0
-0.65 0.5
-1.17 1.0
-1.42 1.5
-1.76 2.0
-1.97 2.5
-2.165 3.0
-2.34 3.5
-2.47 4.0
-2.58 4.5
-2.67 5.0
-2.76 5.5
-2.83 6.0
-2.90 6.5
-2.95 7.0
-2.99 7.5
-3.06 8.0
-3.10 8.5
-3.13 9.0
-3.16 9.5
-3.19 10.0
-3.22 10.5
-3.24 11.0
-3.27 11.5
-3.30 12.0
-3.32 12.5
-3.35 13.0
-3.36 13.5
-3.37 14.0
-3.38 14.5
-3.39 15.0
-3.41 15.5
-3.415 16.0
-3.42 16.5
-3.43 17.0
-3.44 17.5
-3.45 18.0
-3.47 18.5
-3.48 19.0
-3.48 19.5
Solution (w/ 2g solute)

Temp (oC) Time (min)

 0 0
-0.52 0.5
-1.04 1.0
-1.46 1.5
-1.84 2.0
-2.17 2.5
-2.83 3.0
-3.31 3.5
-3.79 4.0
-4.11 4.5
-4.42 5.0
-4.53 5.5
-4.85 6.0
-5.03 6.5
-5.16 7.0
-5.30 7.5
-5.40 8.0
-5.48 8.5
-2.73 9.0
-2.71 9.5
-2.67 10.0
-2.67 10.5
-2.67 11.0
-2.67 11.5
-2.67 12.0
-2.67 12.5
-2.67 13.0
-2.67 13.5
-2.67 14.0
-2.67 14.5
-2.67 15.0
15.5
16.0
16.5
17.0
17.5
18.0
18.5
19.0
19.5
4.4 Discussion
 The data gathered were not that accurate due to some errors while doing the experiment.
One of these would be human error. Another factor may be the surrounding for it contribute to
the temperature of the system. The experimenter may have failed to accurately read the
temperature difference since the calibration of the Beckmann thermometer was so small.

4.5 Conclusion
 In setting the Beckmann thermometer, a sufficient amount of mercury must be left in the
bulb and stem to give readings between the required temperatures. First, the thermometer is
inverted and gently tapped so that the mercury in the reservoir lodges in the bend (B) at the end
of the stem. Next, the bulb is heated until the mercury in the stem joins the mercury in the
reservoir. The thermometer is then placed in a bath one or two degrees above the upper limit of
temperatures to be measured.

The upper end of the tube is gently tapped with the finger, and the mercury suspended in
the upper part of the reservoir will be jarred down, thus separating it from the thread at the bend
(B). The thermometer will then be set for readings between the required temperatures.

To obtain the molecular weight of an unknown solute, the freezing point depression. By
knowing the molecular weight, we may be able to know what the unknown is, the change in the
freezing point that occurs when the solute dissolves in the solvent. Solute particles prevent the
solvent molecules to escape into gas phase, depreciating the vapor pressure and freezing point
depression.

4.6 Reference
http://www2.humboldt.edu/scimus/HSC.54-70/Descriptions/BckmnThrm.htm - accessed on Oct.
14, 2016

http://www.chem.ufl.edu/~itl/2045/lectures/leci.html - accessed on Oct. 15, 2016