Finding Molecular Weight from Freezing Point Depression

In summary, to find the molecular weight of a compound that contains boron, nitrogen, and hydrogen, a solution of this compound is prepared in benzene and its freezing point is measured. Using the freezing point depression equation and the cryoscopic constant of benzene, the molarity of the solution is calculated. This molarity is then used to find the number of moles of the compound dissolved in the solution. Dividing the mass of the compound by the number of moles gives the molecular weight of the compound. The composition information given is not necessary for this calculation.
  • #1
Nicolaus
73
0
A compound contains boron (40.3%), nitrogen (52.2%), and hydrogen (7.5%) - by mass. If 6.32g of this compound if dissolved in 100g of benzene, the solution freezes at 1.30 celcius. If the cryoscopic constant is 5.12 and freezing pt of benzene is 5.48, what is the molecular weight of compound?

I first rearranged the freezing pt depression equation to solve for the molarity of the solution (in mol of solute per kg of solvent), then multiplied this by the mass of of the solvent to obtain number of moles of solute. Being given the mass (6.32g) of the compound, I divided this mass by the number of moles calculated to obtain the molecular weight of the compound. Is this the correct approach?
I can calculate the actual molecular formula by using the % by mass and the molecular weight computed.
 
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  • #2
Your description of what you did sounds OK - just remember you have calculated molality, not molarity.

Unless you have quoted only part of the problem, you are not asked to find the molecular formula, so you can safely ignore the composition information.
 

FAQ: Finding Molecular Weight from Freezing Point Depression

What is molecular weight?

Molecular weight is the total mass of a molecule, which is calculated by adding up the atomic weights of all the atoms that make up the molecule.

Why is finding molecular weight important?

Knowing the molecular weight of a substance is crucial in many scientific fields, such as chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology. It can help identify and characterize molecules, determine the composition of a compound, and predict its physical and chemical properties.

How do you calculate molecular weight?

Molecular weight is calculated by adding up the atomic weights of each atom in a molecule. This can be done by using the periodic table to find the atomic weights of each element and then multiplying it by the number of atoms present in the molecule. The sum of these values is the molecular weight.

What units are used to measure molecular weight?

The most commonly used unit for molecular weight is grams per mole (g/mol). However, other units such as kilograms per mole (kg/mol) or atomic mass units (amu) can also be used.

How can I determine the molecular weight of a compound experimentally?

There are various experimental methods to determine the molecular weight of a compound, such as mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and gel electrophoresis. These techniques involve separating and analyzing the individual components of a compound to determine their molecular weights.

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