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Jacobus Henricus Van’t Hoff
Jacobus Henricus Van’t Hoff was a Dutch chemist who was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1901 “in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered by the discovery of the laws of chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure in solutions.” Van’t Hoff is also credited with the development of the mathematical model of chemical equilibrium.
What is Abnormal Molar Mass?
Abnormal molar mass is a condition that affects the size and weight of molecules. This condition can cause problems with the way the body processes and uses the molecules.
What are Colligative Properties?
The colligative properties of a solvent are its ability to dissolve a solute and to produce a vapor pressure lowering effect. The vapor pressure of a solvent is lowered when a solute is dissolved in it. The lowering of the vapor pressure is a result of the increased number of particles in the liquid.
Van’t Hoff Factor
The Van’t Hoff Factor (usually denoted by the symbol i) is a dimensionless number that is used to calculate the change in the freezing point of a solvent caused by the addition of an solute. The Van’t Hoff Factor is calculated by dividing the change in the freezing point of the solvent by the molality of the solute.
Physical Significance of ‘i’
The letter ‘i’ has multiple phonetic pronunciations, including ‘eye’ and ‘aye’. It is often used to represent the number 1, as in ‘one’. It can also represent the indefinite article ‘a’, as in ‘a apple’.
Contributions of Chemist Van’t Hoff:
-Van’t Hoff’s work on the equilibrium between molecules and their crystalline form helped to develop the theory of chemical kinetics.
-Van’t Hoff’s work on osmotic pressure helped to develop the theory of solutions.
-Van’t Hoff’s work on the stereochemistry of carbon compounds helped to develop the theory of chemical structure.
