Question

Which colligative property is employed when salt is put on an icy sidewalk to melt ice?


vapor-pressure lowering

boiling-point elevation

freezing-point depression

Answer 1

For this number, we are to determine the colligative property that is affected by the addition of salt in the sidewalk in order to melt the ice. The answer is that the colligative property being displayed is the freezing point depression. Colligative properties are innate properties of substances and are only dependent on the amount of substance being added.

Answer 2

The correct answer is 'freezing point depression'. Colligative properties depend on the concentration of molecules of a solute. Examples of other colligative properties are boiling point elevation or vapour pressure lowering. The salt causes ice on the side walk to melt because it lowers the freezing point.