How do I start this problem?
When 5g of a noneelectrolyte is added to 25g of water, the new freezing point is -2.5 C. What is the molecular mass of the unknown compound?
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1 Answer
Since you listed this as basic chemistry I'm going to assume that you're using the simplified equation
ΔTf = -Kf*Cm*i
You've got values for
ΔTf = -2.5°C
Kf = 1.853 (K*kg)/mol
i = 1 because it is a non-electrolyte, there's no ionization
The only other trick would be to remember that molal concentration (Cm) is moles of solute per kg of solvent, and then that moles of solute is equal to
5g solute*(1 mol/x g solute).
so you end up with
2.5 = 1.853*[(5/x)/(0.025 kg)]
Just solve for x.





