Last updated: March 2, 2026 by Maria Gonzalez

Understanding Boiling Point Elevation

Formula

Boiling point elevation is a colligative property — it depends on the number of solute particles, not their identity. When a non-volatile solute is dissolved in a solvent, the boiling point of the solution is higher than that of the pure solvent.

The formula ΔTb = i × Kb × m relates the change in boiling point to the van't Hoff factor (i), the ebullioscopic constant (Kb), and the molality (m). For water, Kb = 0.512 °C·kg/mol.

Common use cases:

  • Determining molar mass of unknown solutes
  • Cooking at altitude
  • Antifreeze formulation

Frequently Asked Questions

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Maria Gonzalez

Registered Dietitian, RD, MPH

Maria is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's in Public Health. She focuses on evidence-based nutrition assessment tools including BMI, calorie calculations, and body composition analysis.

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