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In Class 12 Chemistry, the topic Abnormal Molecular Mass explains why the molar mass calculated from colligative properties may differ from the actual molecular mass. Students learn how solute particles associate, such as through dimerisation, or dissociate into ions in solution, changing the number of particles present. They use the van’t Hoff factor to relate these changes to relative lowering of vapour pressure, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point and osmotic pressure, and calculate the degree of association or dissociation in solutions.
TOPIC PRACTICE
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25 questions
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Medium · Level 3View options
\(30\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\)
\(90\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\)
\(180\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\)
\(270\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\)
Medium · Level 3View options
Use the van’t Hoff factor
Apply a colour correction
Apply a smell correction
Apply a container correction
Medium · Level 3View options
0.5
1
2
3
Medium · Level 3View options
Ionisation
Dimer association
Complete dissociation
Evaporation of the solvent
Medium · Level 3View options
32.5 g mol⁻¹
58.5 g mol⁻¹
105.3 g mol⁻¹
117.0 g mol⁻¹
Medium · Level 3View options
60 g mol⁻¹
90 g mol⁻¹
120 g mol⁻¹
180 g mol⁻¹
Medium · Level 3View options
50.0 g mol⁻¹
62.5 g mol⁻¹
100 g mol⁻¹
160 g mol⁻¹
Medium · Level 3View options
The solute particles undergo association
The solute particles undergo dissociation
The solute becomes the solvent
The colour of the solvent changes
Medium · Level 3View options
Dissociation of solute particles
Association of solute particles
Complete vaporisation of the solute
Freezing of the solution
Medium · Level 3View options
30 g mol⁻¹
50 g mol⁻¹
75 g mol⁻¹
112.5 g mol⁻¹
Medium · Level 3View options
64 g mol⁻¹
80 g mol⁻¹
100 g mol⁻¹
160 g mol⁻¹
Medium · Level 3View options
Ionisation of sodium chloride in water
Dimerisation of benzoic acid in benzene
Dissociation of calcium chloride in water
Dissolution of glucose in water
Medium · Level 3View options
The observed molar mass is greater than the actual molar mass
The observed molar mass is less than the actual molar mass
The observed molar mass is always equal to the actual molar mass
The molar mass cannot be determined
Medium · Level 3View options
Association of molecules in the solution
Dissociation of molecules in the solution
Complete ionisation in the solution
No change in the number of solute particles
Medium · Level 3View options
13.3 g mol⁻¹
40 g mol⁻¹
80 g mol⁻¹
120 g mol⁻¹
Medium · Level 3View options
It will be lower than the normal molar mass
It will be higher than the normal molar mass
It will always remain correct
It will become zero
Medium · Level 3View options
The solute dissociated and doubled the number of effective particles
The solute formed dimers and reduced the number of particles
The solute reduced the number of effective particles to half
No colligative effect occurred
Medium · Level 3View options
0.5
1
2
3
Medium · Level 3View options
The solute is dissociating
The solute is forming dimers
The solute is completely ionising
The solute has zero mass
Medium · Level 3View options
25%
40%
50%
75%
Medium · Level 3View options
0.8
1.0
1.25
2.0
Medium · Level 3View options
0.625
0.8
1.6
2.0
Medium · Level 3View options
i = 2; dissociation is occurring
i = 0.5; association is occurring
i = 1; the solute shows normal behaviour
i = 4; complete tetramerisation is occurring
Medium · Level 3View options
0.67
1.0
1.5
2.0
Medium · Level 3View options
2.46 atm
4.92 atm
7.38 atm
9.84 atm
Question 1MediumLevel 3
The normal molar mass of a solute is \(90\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). If the van’t Hoff factor is \(i=3\), what will be the observed molar mass?
Correct answer: A
The van’t Hoff factor relates the normal and observed molar masses as \(i=M_{\text{normal}}/M_{\text{observed}}\). Therefore, \(M_{\text{observed}}=90/3=30\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). Since \(i>1\), the solute produces more particles, usually because of dissociation, so the colligative effect is larger and the calculated observed molar mass is smaller than the normal value. Hence, option A is correct.
In molar-mass determination, if a solute dissociates into ions, which correction is required in the formula?
Correct answer: A
Dissociation increases the number of particles in solution, so the measured colligative effect is larger than it would be for an equal amount of non-dissociating solute. This particle-number change is represented by the van’t Hoff factor \(i\). For an electrolyte, the appropriate factor is included in equations such as \(\Delta T_f=iK_fm\), \(\Delta T_b=iK_bm\), or \(\pi=iCRT\). Therefore, option A is correct.
The normal molar mass of a solute is 60 g mol⁻¹, but its observed molar mass from colligative properties is 30 g mol⁻¹. What is the van’t Hoff factor?
Correct answer: C
The van’t Hoff factor is related to normal and observed molar masses by i = Mnormal/Mobserved. Therefore, i = 60/30 = 2. A factor greater than one means that the number of solute particles has increased relative to the undissociated formula units. This commonly occurs through dissociation, so the observed molar mass becomes smaller than the normal molar mass.
The normal molar mass of an organic acid is 120 g mol⁻¹. In benzene, its observed molar mass is 240 g mol⁻¹. Which reason explains this result?
Correct answer: B
The observed molar mass is twice the normal molar mass: 240/120 = 2. Since i = Mnormal/Mobserved, the van’t Hoff factor is i = 120/240 = 0.5. A value below one indicates that solute particles have associated, reducing the number of particles in solution. Organic acids commonly form hydrogen-bonded dimers in nonpolar benzene, so the effective particle mass doubles.
The normal molar mass of NaCl is 58.5 g mol⁻¹. If the van’t Hoff factor is 1.8 in solution, what is the approximate observed molar mass?
Correct answer: A
For abnormal colligative behaviour, the van’t Hoff factor relates the normal and observed molar masses by i = Mnormal/Mobserved. Therefore, Mobserved = Mnormal/i. Using the given values, Mobserved = 58.5 ÷ 1.8 = 32.5 g mol⁻¹ approximately. Since i is greater than one because of dissociation, the observed molar mass is smaller than the normal value. Option A is correct.
The normal molar mass of a solute is 90 g mol⁻¹, and 50% of its molecules form dimers. What will be the observed molar mass?
Correct answer: C
For association, the van’t Hoff factor is calculated from the number of solute particles after association. Consider one mole initially: 0.5 mol remains as individual molecules, while 0.5 mol molecules forms dimers and becomes 0.25 mol of dimers. Thus the total particles are 0.75 mol, so i = 0.75. Since observed molar mass = normal molar mass ÷ i, M observed = 90 ÷ 0.75 = 120 g mol⁻¹. Therefore, option C is correct.
A salt AB is 60% dissociated in solution. If its normal molar mass is 100 g mol⁻¹, what is its observed molar mass?
Correct answer: B
For AB dissociating into A⁺ and B⁻, the number of particles increases from one to two for each dissociated unit. The van’t Hoff factor is i = 1 + α(n − 1), where α = 0.60 and n = 2. Thus i = 1 + 0.60(1) = 1.60. The observed molar mass is Mnormal/i = 100/1.60 = 62.5 g mol⁻¹. Therefore, option B is correct.
The observed molar mass of a solute in a solution is lower than its normal molar mass. Which statement best explains this observation?
Correct answer: B
A lower observed molar mass indicates that the solution contains more effective particles than expected from the undissociated solute. This occurs when one solute particle breaks into two or more particles, a process called dissociation. The van’t Hoff factor then becomes greater than one, and the observed molar mass is lower than the normal value. Hence, option B is correct.
The observed molar mass of a solute in a solution is higher than its normal molar mass. What is the simplest possible reason?
Correct answer: B
A higher observed molar mass means that the effective number of solute particles is lower than expected. Association causes two or more solute molecules to combine into a larger molecular unit, thereby reducing the number of independent particles. Consequently, the van’t Hoff factor becomes less than one and the calculated molar mass appears higher than the normal value. Thus, option B is correct.
If a solution has a van’t Hoff factor i = 1.5 and the normal molar mass is 75 g mol⁻¹, what is the observed molar mass?
Correct answer: B
For abnormal molar mass, the relation between normal molar mass and observed molar mass is M_observed = M_normal/i. Substituting the given values, M_observed = 75 g mol⁻¹ ÷ 1.5 = 50 g mol⁻¹. Therefore, the observed molar mass is 50 g mol⁻¹, which is option B. The factor must be used as a divisor here, not as a multiplier.
The observed molar mass of a substance is 80 g mol⁻¹ and its van’t Hoff factor is 0.8. What is the normal molar mass?
Correct answer: A
The van’t Hoff factor is related to the true or normal molar mass and the observed molar mass by i = M_normal/M_observed. Rearranging gives M_normal = i × M_observed. Substitution gives M_normal = 0.8 × 80 = 64 g mol⁻¹. Therefore, option A is correct. The factor below one indicates association, which reduces the number of particles and makes the experimentally observed molar mass appear larger than the normal value.
In which situation does association of solute molecules cause the observed molar mass to be greater than the actual molar mass?
Correct answer: B
Benzoic acid molecules associate in benzene and commonly form hydrogen-bonded dimers. Thus, two solute molecules behave as one effective particle, reducing the total number of solute particles. Since colligative properties depend on particle number, the observed effect becomes smaller than expected and the calculated molar mass becomes larger than the true value. In contrast, ionisation or dissociation increases particle number and gives a lower apparent molar mass.
In determining molar mass using colligative properties, what is the main effect of association of solute particles?
Correct answer: A
Association means that two or more solute molecules combine to form fewer effective particles. Because colligative properties depend on the number of dissolved particles, the measured colligative effect becomes smaller than the value expected for non-associating molecules. When the usual formula is applied, this smaller effect gives an apparently larger molar mass. Therefore, association produces an observed molar mass greater than the actual molar mass and a van’t Hoff factor less than one.
If the molar mass of a solute determined from colligative properties is greater than its true molar mass, which process is likely occurring in the solute?
Correct answer: A
When solute molecules associate, two or more molecules combine to form fewer effective particles. Since colligative properties depend on the number of particles, the measured effect becomes smaller than the ideal expected effect. Substitution into the ordinary molar-mass formula then gives a value greater than the true molar mass. Dissociation and ionisation increase particle number and generally produce the opposite result, namely a lower observed molar mass.
A solute has a van’t Hoff factor i = 3 and an observed molar mass of 40 g mol⁻¹. What is its normal molar mass?
Correct answer: D
For abnormal molar mass caused by dissociation or association, the van’t Hoff factor is related to molar masses by i = Mnormal/Mobserved. Therefore, Mnormal = i × Mobserved = 3 × 40 = 120 g mol⁻¹. The observed molar mass is smaller because dissociation produces more particles than expected from the original solute units. Thus, 40 g mol⁻¹ is not the normal value; option D is correct.
If a solution has van’t Hoff factor \(i=2\), but a student assumes \(i=1\) while calculating molar mass, what happens to the calculated molar mass of the electrolyte?
Correct answer: A
For a colligative-property measurement, the observed effect is proportional to \(i/M\). If the electrolyte has \(i=2\) but the calculation incorrectly uses \(i=1\), the extra particles produced by dissociation are ignored. The measured effect is then interpreted as arising from twice as many solute moles, so the calculated molar mass becomes half the correct value, or lower than normal. Option A is correct.
A sample has a normal molar mass of \(98\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), but its experimentally determined molar mass is \(49\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). Which statement best explains this result?
Correct answer: A
For abnormal molar mass, the van’t Hoff factor is \(i=M_{\text{normal}}/M_{\text{observed}}=98/49=2\). Thus, the solution contains twice as many effective solute particles as expected from an undissociated solute. Dissociation, such as an ionic compound splitting into ions, produces more particles and makes the experimentally calculated molar mass smaller than the normal value. Therefore, option A is correct; dimerisation would instead give \(i<1\) and a larger observed molar mass.
The true molar mass of a solute is \(180\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), but a colligative-property measurement gives an apparent molar mass of \(90\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). What is the value of the van’t Hoff factor \(i\)?
Correct answer: C
The apparent molar mass obtained from a colligative property is related to the true molar mass by \(M_{\text{app}}=M_{\text{true}}/i\). Substitution gives \(90=180/i\), so \(i=180/90=2\). A value greater than one means that the number of effective particles has increased, usually because the solute dissociates into two or more particles. Therefore, option C is correct.
A solute has a true molar mass of \(120\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), but its observed molar mass is \(240\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). What is the most suitable conclusion?
Correct answer: B
The relation is \(M_{\text{observed}}=M_{\text{true}}/i\). Therefore, \(240=120/i\), which gives \(i=0.5\). A van’t Hoff factor below one means that the number of independent solute particles has decreased because particles associate. Formation of dimers combines two solute molecules into one effective particle, giving approximately \(i=1/2\) and doubling the apparent molar mass. Hence, option B is correct.
A solute forms dimers. Its true molar mass is 60 g mol⁻¹, while its observed molar mass is 80 g mol⁻¹. What is the degree of association?
Correct answer: C
For association, the van’t Hoff factor is i = Mtrue ÷ Mobserved = 60 ÷ 80 = 0.75. When monomers form dimers, the relation is i = 1 − α/2, because two original particles become one associated particle. Thus, 0.75 = 1 − α/2, so α/2 = 0.25 and α = 0.50. Therefore, the degree of association is 50%, making option C correct.
If the observed molar mass of a solute is 0.8 times its true molar mass, what is the van’t Hoff factor, i?
Correct answer: C
The relation between observed and true molar mass is Mobserved = Mtrue/i. The given condition is 0.8Mtrue = Mtrue/i. Cancelling Mtrue gives i = 1/0.8 = 1.25. Since i is greater than 1, the result also indicates an increase in the number of solute particles, such as dissociation. Hence option C is correct.
If the observed molar mass of a solute is 1.6 times its true molar mass, what is the van’t Hoff factor, i?
Correct answer: A
Use the relation Mobserved = Mtrue/i. The stated value gives 1.6Mtrue = Mtrue/i. After cancelling the true molar mass, i = 1/1.6 = 0.625. A van’t Hoff factor below unity means that association has reduced the number of independent solute particles. Therefore, option A is the correct value.
In a solution, the true molar mass of the solute is 100 g mol⁻¹, but the vapour-pressure method gives an observed molar mass of 50 g mol⁻¹. Which conclusion is correct?
Correct answer: A
For abnormal colligative behaviour, the van’t Hoff factor is i = Mtrue/Mobserved. Thus i = 100/50 = 2. A value greater than one means that the number of solute particles has increased compared with the undissociated state. This increase is caused by dissociation, so option A is correct.
The normal molar mass of a solute is 90 g mol⁻¹. If its observed molar mass obtained from a colligative-property measurement is 60 g mol⁻¹, what is the van’t Hoff factor?
Correct answer: C
For abnormal molar mass caused by association or dissociation, the van’t Hoff factor is related to molar masses by i = normal molar mass ÷ observed molar mass. Thus, i = 90 ÷ 60 = 1.5. Since i is greater than 1, the solute produces more particles in solution than expected, generally because of dissociation or ionisation. Hence, option C, 1.5, is the unambiguous correct answer.
If a 0.2 M nonelectrolyte solution has an osmotic pressure of 4.92 atm at 300 K, what will be the osmotic pressure of a 0.1 M solute with i = 3 at the same temperature?
Correct answer: C
The osmotic-pressure equation is π = iCRT. At the same temperature, R and T are constant, so osmotic pressure is proportional to iC. For the first nonelectrolyte solution, iC = 1 × 0.2 = 0.2 M. For the second solution, iC = 3 × 0.1 = 0.3 M. Therefore, π₂/π₁ = 0.3/0.2 = 1.5, and π₂ = 1.5 × 4.92 = 7.38 atm. Hence option C is correct.
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