The boiling point elevation constant, also known as the ebullioscopic constant (
Kb), can be determined using the formula:
Kb=1000⋅ΔHvapR⋅Tb2
where:
-
R is the universal gas constant (8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹)
-
Tb is the boiling point of the solvent (in K)
-
ΔHvap is the enthalpy of vaporization (in J/mol)
According to the problem, the ratio of boiling points for X and Y is 2:1, and the ratio of their enthalpy of vaporization is 1:2.
Let's denote the boiling point of Y as
Tb(Y) and the boiling point of X as
Tb(X), and likewise for the enthalpy of vaporization
ΔHvap(Y) and
ΔHvap(X).
We then have:
Tb(X)=2Tb(Y) and
ΔHvap(X)=0.5ΔHvap(Y)
We can substitute these values into the equation for
Kb:
Kb(X)=R∗(2Tb(Y))2/(1000∗0.5ΔHvap(Y))=4∗R∗Tb(Y)2/(500∗ΔHvap(Y))
and
Kb(Y)=R∗Tb(Y)2/(1000∗ΔHvap(Y))
Comparing these two equations:
Kb(X)/Kb(Y)=[4∗R∗Tb(Y)2/(500∗ΔHvap(Y))]/[R∗Tb(Y)2/(1000∗ΔHvap(Y))]
This simplifies to:
Kb(X)/Kb(Y)=4/0.5=8
So, the boiling point elevation constant of X is 8 times the boiling point elevation constant of Y. Therefore, m = 8.