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Sigma Aldrich Boiling Point Calculator

Boiling Point Elevation Formula:

\[ T_b = T_0 + i K_b m \]

°C
°C·kg/mol
mol/kg

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1. What is Boiling Point Elevation?

Boiling point elevation is a colligative property that describes how the boiling point of a liquid increases when another compound is added to it. This phenomenon occurs because the presence of solute particles lowers the vapor pressure of the solvent, requiring a higher temperature to reach atmospheric pressure.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the boiling point elevation formula:

\[ T_b = T_0 + i K_b m \]

Where:

Explanation: The van't Hoff factor accounts for the number of particles the solute dissociates into, while the ebullioscopic constant is specific to each solvent.

3. Importance of Boiling Point Calculation

Details: Calculating boiling point elevation is essential in various chemical processes, including distillation, pharmaceutical formulation, food processing, and determining molecular weights of unknown compounds.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the boiling point of the pure solvent, van't Hoff factor, ebullioscopic constant, and molality. Ensure all values are positive and appropriate for your specific solvent-solute system.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the van't Hoff factor?
A: The van't Hoff factor (i) represents the number of particles a solute dissociates into in solution. For non-electrolytes, i = 1; for strong electrolytes, i equals the number of ions produced.

Q2: Where can I find ebullioscopic constants?
A: Ebullioscopic constants are solvent-specific and can be found in chemical reference tables. For water, K_b = 0.512 °C·kg/mol.

Q3: Why use molality instead of molarity?
A: Molality (moles per kg of solvent) is used because it's temperature-independent, unlike molarity (moles per liter of solution), which changes with temperature.

Q4: Does this work for all concentrations?
A: The formula works best for dilute solutions. For concentrated solutions, deviations may occur due to non-ideal behavior.

Q5: Can I use this for mixed solvents?
A: The standard equation is designed for single solvents. For mixed solvents, more complex models are needed.

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