Chemistry › Section K · Solutions and colloids › Topic K.4
Colligative properties
Some properties of a solution depend only on how many solute particles it contains, not on what those particles are. These colligative properties explain why salted roads stay ice-free, why antifreeze protects engines, and why fluids given into a vein must match the concentration of blood.
In this topic
- Counting particles, not identities
- Vapour pressure lowering and Raoult's law
- Worked example: vapour pressure of a sugar solution
- Boiling point elevation and freezing point depression
- Worked example: protecting a radiator
- The van 't Hoff factor
- Why measured i falls short
- Worked example: salt on an icy road
- Osmosis and osmotic pressure
- Worked example: saline and red blood cells
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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