choose the solvent below that would have the highest boiling point when used to make a 0.10 m nonelectrolyte solution.
Carbon tetrachloride would have the highest boiling point for a 0.10 m nonelectrolyte solution.
This question involves colligative properties, specifically boiling point elevation (ΔTb\Delta T_bΔTb), given by ΔTb=Kb×m×i\Delta T_b=K_b\times m\times iΔTb=Kb×m×i. For a nonelectrolyte, i=1i=1i=1, and m=0.10m=0.10m=0.10, so ΔTb\Delta T_bΔTb depends directly on the solvent's ebullioscopic constant KbK_bKb. The solvent with the highest KbK_bKb yields the greatest elevation, thus the highest final boiling point (pure boiling point + ΔTb\Delta T_bΔTb).
Solvent Options and KbK_bKb Values
These are the standard options from identical problems:
Solvent| KbK_bKb (°C/m)| ΔTb\Delta T_bΔTb for 0.10 m
---|---|---
Carbon tetrachloride| 5.03| 0.503°C
Benzene| 2.53| 0.253°C
Diethyl ether| 2.02| 0.202°C
Water| 0.512| 0.0512°C
Acetic acid| 3.07| 0.307°C
Carbon tetrachloride tops the list because its KbK_bKb is unmatched here, elevating boiling by 0.503°C—nearly 10x water's effect.
Why This Matters
Higher KbK_bKb reflects stronger solute-solvent interactions in that medium, amplifying the elevation. Pure solvent boiling points vary (e.g., water 100°C, benzene ~80°C), but the question targets the solution's final TbT_bTb, so max ΔTb\Delta T_bΔTb wins regardless.
TL;DR: Carbon tetrachloride—its Kb=5.03°C/mK_b=5.03°C/mKb=5.03°C/m gives the biggest ΔTb=0.503°C\Delta T_b=0.503°CΔTb=0.503°C.
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