Introduction: What NEET Tests from Solutions
Solutions is one of the most calculation-heavy chapters in NEET Chemistry Class 12. You can expect 3 to 5 questions from this chapter in NEET 2027. The most frequently tested topics are colligative properties (especially depression in freezing point and osmotic pressure), the van't Hoff factor, and Raoult's law. Concentration unit conversions (molarity to molality) appear almost every year in combination problems.
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more components. The component present in the larger quantity is called the solvent. The component in the smaller quantity is called the solute. When both components are liquids, the one present in larger amount is called the solvent.
NCERT Class 12 Chapter 1 covers nine types of solutions based on the physical states of solute and solvent. The most common type for NEET problems is a solid solute dissolved in a liquid solvent (like NaCl in water or glucose in water). You must be very comfortable calculating concentration in all six units before moving to the colligative property formulas.
Types of Solutions and Concentration Units
Solutions can be classified based on the physical states of the solute and solvent. There are nine types: gas-in-gas (like air), gas-in-liquid (CO2 in water), gas-in-solid (H2 in palladium), liquid-in-gas (water vapour in air), liquid-in-liquid (ethanol in water), liquid-in-solid (mercury in silver/amalgam), solid-in-gas (camphor in nitrogen), solid-in-liquid (NaCl in water), and solid-in-solid (brass = copper + zinc).
For NEET, you need to know six ways to express concentration. Each formula has a different use. Molality is used for colligative properties because it does not depend on temperature. Mole fraction is used in Raoult's law. Parts per million (ppm) is used for very dilute solutions such as pollutants in water.
| Unit | Symbol | Formula | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass percent | w/w % | (mass of solute / mass of solution) x 100 | Temperature-independent |
| Volume percent | v/v % | (volume of solute / volume of solution) x 100 | Used for liquid-in-liquid solutions |
| Parts per million | ppm | (mass of solute / mass of solution) x 106 | For very dilute solutions |
| Mole fraction | χ | nsolute / (nsolute + nsolvent) | χA + χB = 1; dimensionless |
| Molarity | M | moles of solute / volume of solution in litres | Temperature-dependent (volume changes) |
| Molality | m | moles of solute / mass of solvent in kg | Temperature-independent; used in colligative properties |
The key relationship you need for converting molarity to molality (and vice versa) is this: if you know molarity M, molar mass of solute M2, and density d of the solution (g/mL), then molality m = (1000 x M) / (1000 x d - M x M2). You can derive this yourself by working out the masses in 1 litre of solution.
Solute
Solvent
Mass percent
10
% (w/w)
(w₂ / (w₁+w₂)) × 100
Parts per million
100000
ppm
(w₂ / (w₁+w₂)) × 10⁶
Mole fraction (solute)
0.01099
dimensionless
n₂ / (n₁ + n₂)
Molality
0.6173
mol/kg
n₂ / (w₁ in kg)
Molarity
0.5833
mol/L
n₂ / V(solution in L)
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Solubility and Henry's Law
Solubility is the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a particular temperature and pressure. A solution that holds the maximum possible amount of dissolved solute is called a saturated solution. A solution that can still dissolve more solute is unsaturated. Asupersaturated solution holds more solute than the equilibrium amount (unstable).
For solid solutes in liquids: solubility generally increases with temperature for endothermic dissolution (like KNO3 in water). For exothermic dissolution (like CaCl2in water), solubility decreases with temperature.
Henry's Law for Gas Solubility
For gases dissolved in liquids, the solubility increases with pressure. William Henry quantified this relationship:
Here p is the partial pressure of the gas above the solution, KHis Henry's law constant (units: atm or bar), and χ is the mole fraction of the gas dissolved in the liquid. A larger KH means the gas is less soluble (it takes more pressure to dissolve the same amount).
Gas solubility decreases with increasing temperature. This is why fish in warm water can suffer from low dissolved oxygen. Henry's law applies only to dilute solutions of gases that do not react with the solvent.
NEET Applications of Henry's Law
- Carbonated drinks: CO2 is dissolved under high pressure. When you open the bottle, pressure drops and gas escapes (solubility falls).
- Scuba diving (bends): At depth, divers breathe compressed air. Nitrogen dissolves in blood at high pressure. If they surface too fast, nitrogen comes out of solution as bubbles in the bloodstream, causing decompression sickness.
- Altitude sickness: At high altitudes, atmospheric pressure is lower. Less O2 dissolves in blood, causing headaches and fatigue.
Vapour Pressure and Raoult's Law
The vapour pressure of a liquid is the pressure exerted by its vapour in equilibrium with the liquid phase at a given temperature. A non-volatile solute dissolved in a liquid lowers its vapour pressure. Why? Solute molecules occupy some surface positions, reducing the fraction of solvent molecules that can escape into the vapour phase.
Raoult's Law
For an ideal solution of two miscible liquids A and B, the partial vapour pressure of each component is proportional to its mole fraction in solution:
Here PA° and PB° are the vapour pressures of the pure components. The total vapour pressure is a linear function of mole fraction (P vs χ graph is a straight line between PB° and PA°).
For a dilute solution of a non-volatile solute in a solvent, only the solvent contributes to vapour pressure:
This is the relative lowering of vapour pressure, which is a colligative property. The left side is measurable directly from the vapour pressures.
Mole fraction of A: 0.40 (mole fraction of B: 0.60)
Solution type
Partial pressure of A (P°A = 95 mmHg, χA = 0.40)
38 mmHg
Partial pressure of B (P°B = 29 mmHg, χB = 0.60)
17.4 mmHg
Total vapour pressure
55.4 mmHg
pA (partial)
38 mmHg
pB (partial)
17.4 mmHg
P total
55.4 mmHg
Mole fraction A in vapour
0.69
pA / Ptotal
Ideal vs Non-Ideal Solutions
An ideal solution obeys Raoult's law at all concentrations. The intermolecular forces between A-B, A-A, and B-B are all equal. Mixing is accompanied by zero enthalpy change (delta-Hmix = 0) and zero volume change (delta-Vmix = 0). Example: benzene and toluene (similar structure, similar interactions).
Most real solutions show deviations:
- Positive deviation:A-B interactions are weaker than A-A and B-B. Molecules escape more easily. Total vapour pressure is higher than predicted by Raoult's law. delta-Hmix> 0 (endothermic). Example: acetone + ethanol, acetone + CS2, ethanol + water.
- Negative deviation: A-B interactions are stronger than A-A and B-B. Molecules are held more tightly. Total vapour pressure is lower than predicted. delta-Hmix< 0 (exothermic). Example: acetone + chloroform (H-bonding between C=O and H-CCl3), HCl + water, HNO3 + water.
Azeotropes
At certain compositions, the vapour and liquid phases have exactly the same composition. Such mixtures are called azeotropes or constant-boiling mixtures. They cannot be separated by simple distillation because distillation does not change the composition.
- Minimum boiling azeotrope:forms at the composition where positive deviation gives a maximum in the vapour pressure curve. Boils at a lower temperature than either pure component. Example: ethanol-water (95.5% ethanol, bp 78.1 °C).
- Maximum boiling azeotrope: forms at the composition where negative deviation gives a minimum in the vapour pressure curve. Boils at a higher temperature than either pure component. Example: HNO3-water (68% HNO3, bp 120.5 °C).
Colligative Properties
Colligative properties depend only on the number of solute particles dissolved, not on the nature (identity, size, or charge) of those particles. There are four colligative properties that NEET tests:
- Relative lowering of vapour pressure
- Elevation of boiling point (ebullioscopy)
- Depression of freezing point (cryoscopy)
- Osmotic pressure
1 = non-electrolyte, 2 = NaCl, 3 = BaCl2
Water constants
Bp = 100°C
Fp = 0°C
Kb = 0.52K kg mol⁻¹
Kf = 1.86K kg mol⁻¹
delta-Tb
0.052
K
i × Kb × m = 1 × 0.52 × 0.1
New boiling point
100.052
°C
100 + ΔTb
delta-Tf
0.186
K
i × Kf × m = 1 × 1.86 × 0.1
New freezing point
-0.186
°C
0 − ΔTf
Osmotic pressure (needs molarity)
Osmotic pressure (at 25°C)
2.447 atm
i × C × 0.0821 × 298
1. Relative Lowering of Vapour Pressure
For dilute solutions (nsolute very small compared to nsolvent):
This formula lets you find the molar mass M2 of the solute from vapour pressure measurements.
2. Elevation of Boiling Point
A solution boils at a higher temperature than pure solvent because the dissolved solute lowers the vapour pressure. The solvent must be heated to a higher temperature to reach atmospheric pressure.
Here Kb is the ebullioscopic constant (molal elevation constant) and m is the molality of the solution. Kb is a property of the solvent only, not the solute.
| Solvent | Boiling point (°C) | Kb (K kg mol⁻¹) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 100.0 | 0.52 |
| Benzene | 80.1 | 2.53 |
| Ethanol | 78.4 | 1.20 |
| Chloroform | 61.2 | 3.63 |
| CCl4 | 76.7 | 5.02 |
3. Depression of Freezing Point
A solution freezes at a lower temperature than pure solvent. The dissolved solute interferes with the formation of the solid lattice.
Kf is the cryoscopic constant (molal depression constant). This formula is extremely commonly tested in NEET for finding molar masses of unknowns.
| Solvent | Freezing point (°C) | Kf (K kg mol⁻¹) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 0.0 | 1.86 |
| Benzene | 5.5 | 5.12 |
| Cyclohexane | 6.5 | 20.0 |
| Camphor | 179.8 | 40.0 |
| Acetic acid | 16.6 | 3.90 |
Camphor has a very large Kf (40 K kg mol-1), so even small amounts of solute give a large, easily measurable freezing point depression. This makes it useful for determining molar masses of small organic molecules (Rast method).
4. Osmotic Pressure
Osmosis is the spontaneous flow of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration (lower osmotic pressure) to a region of higher solute concentration (higher osmotic pressure).
The osmotic pressure(π) is the minimum external pressure that must be applied to the solution side to stop osmosis:
where M is the molarity of the solution, R = 0.0821 L atm mol-1 K-1, and T is the temperature in Kelvin. For electrolytes, use π = iMRT.
Osmotic pressure is useful for measuring molar masses of large molecules (proteins, polymers) because even a small concentration gives a large osmotic pressure that is easy to measure.
Tonicity and Biological Importance
- Isotonic solutions: Same osmotic pressure as body fluids. Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) is isotonic with blood plasma. Intravenous fluids must be isotonic.
- Hypertonic solutions: Higher osmotic pressure than cell contents. Water moves out of cells (plasmolysis in plants, crenation in red blood cells). Preserving food in salt or sugar creates hypertonic conditions around bacteria, killing them.
- Hypotonic solutions: Lower osmotic pressure than cell contents. Water enters cells; they swell and may burst (turgidity in plants, haemolysis in red blood cells).
Reverse Osmosis
If you apply external pressure greater than the osmotic pressure on the concentrated side, solvent is forced to flow in the reverse direction (from concentrated to dilute). This isreverse osmosis. It is used in desalination of sea water (sea water osmotic pressure is about 27 atm, so the applied pressure must exceed this) and in water purification systems.
van't Hoff Factor and Abnormal Molar Masses
When solutes dissociate (electrolytes) or associate (acetic acid in benzene) in solution, the actual number of particles differs from what you calculate based on the formula unit. The colligative property observed is therefore different from the expected value. This is called an abnormal molar mass.
van't Hoff introduced a correction factor i defined as:
Modifying the Colligative Property Formulas
van't Hoff Factor Values
| Type of solute | i value | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Non-electrolyte (no dissociation) | i = 1 | Glucose, urea, sucrose |
| 1:1 electrolyte (2 ions) | i = 2 | NaCl, KCl, HCl |
| 1:2 or 2:1 electrolyte (3 ions) | i = 3 | BaCl2, CaCl2, Na2SO4 |
| 1:3 or 3:1 electrolyte (4 ions) | i = 4 | AlCl3, Na3PO4 |
| Associating solute (2 molecules join) | i = 0.5 | Acetic acid in benzene (dimers) |
| K4[Fe(CN)6] (5 ions) | i = 5 | 4K+ + [Fe(CN)6]4- |
Degree of Dissociation from i
For an electrolyte that gives n ions per formula unit (e.g., NaCl gives n = 2), if α is the degree of dissociation:
For acetic acid forming dimers in benzene (2 molecules associate to 1 dimer):
Why i < 1 (Association)
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) dissolves in benzene and forms cyclic dimers through double hydrogen bonding between two carboxylic acid groups. This reduces the number of solute particles. The observed molar mass is twice the theoretical value (120 g/mol instead of 60 g/mol). So i = 60/120 = 0.5.
In polar solvents like water, acetic acid does not dimerize because water competes for hydrogen bonds. So i is close to 1 (slightly above 1 due to partial ionisation).
Worked NEET Problems
NEET-style problem · Concentration units
Question
The density of a 3 M NaCl solution is 1.25 g/mL. Calculate the molality of the solution. (Molar mass of NaCl = 58.5 g/mol)
Solution
In 1 L of solution: moles of NaCl = 3 mol; mass of NaCl = 3 × 58.5 = 175.5 g. Mass of solution = 1000 mL × 1.25 g/mL = 1250 g. Mass of water = 1250 − 175.5 = 1074.5 g = 1.0745 kg. Molality = 3 / 1.0745 = 2.79 m.
NEET-style problem · Osmotic pressure
Question
An aqueous solution at 25 °C has osmotic pressure 4.92 atm. What is its molarity? (R = 0.0821 L atm mol⁻¹ K⁻¹)
Solution
π = MRT. M = π / (RT) = 4.92 / (0.0821 × 298) = 4.92 / 24.47 = 0.201 M ≈ 0.2 M.
NEET-style problem · Freezing point depression
Question
1.5 g of urea (M = 60 g/mol) is dissolved in 200 g of water. Calculate the depression in freezing point. (Kf for water = 1.86 K kg mol⁻¹)
Solution
Moles of urea = 1.5/60 = 0.025 mol. Molality = 0.025/0.2 = 0.125 mol/kg. ΔTf = Kf × m = 1.86 × 0.125 = 0.2325 K ≈ 0.233 K.
NEET-style problem · van't Hoff factor
Question
K4[Fe(CN)6] dissociates completely in aqueous solution. What is its van't Hoff factor? If a 0.1 mol/kg solution shows a freezing point depression of X K, find X. (Kf for water = 1.86 K kg mol⁻¹)
Solution
K4[Fe(CN)6] → 4K+ + [Fe(CN)6]4−. This produces 5 ions, so i = 5. ΔTf = i × Kf × m = 5 × 1.86 × 0.1 = 0.93 K.
NEET-style problem · Abnormal molar mass
Question
When 2.56 g of sulphur is dissolved in 100 g of CS2, the freezing point depression is 0.383 K. Find the molar mass of sulphur in CS2 and identify its molecular formula. (Kf for CS2 = 3.83 K kg mol⁻¹)
Solution
ΔTf = Kf × (w2/M2) × (1000/w1). 0.383 = 3.83 × (2.56/M) × (1000/100). M = 3.83 × 25.6 / 0.383 = 256 g/mol. Number of S atoms = 256/32 = 8. Molecular formula: S8.
Summary Cheat Sheet
Before your NEET exam, make sure you can recall these formulas instantly. Every formula below has appeared in at least one NEET paper in the last 8 years.
| Property | Formula | With van't Hoff factor |
|---|---|---|
| Relative VP lowering | (p° - ps) / p° = χsolute | (p° - ps) / p° = i · χsolute |
| Boiling point elevation | ΔTb = Kb · m | ΔTb = i · Kb · m |
| Freezing point depression | ΔTf = Kf · m | ΔTf = i · Kf · m |
| Osmotic pressure | π = MRT | π = i · MRT |
| Degree of dissociation | α = (i - 1) / (n - 1) | where n = number of ions produced |
| Molar mass from i | Mobs = Mtheoretical / i | i > 1: dissociation; i < 1: association |
Key Values to Memorise
- Kf(water) = 1.86 K kg mol-1
- Kb(water) = 0.52 K kg mol-1
- Kf(benzene) = 5.12 K kg mol-1
- Kb(benzene) = 2.53 K kg mol-1
- Kf(camphor) = 40.0 K kg mol-1 (highest; used in Rast method)
- R = 0.0821 L atm K-1 mol-1 for osmotic pressure problems
- Normal saline = 0.9% NaCl (isotonic with blood plasma)
- Acetic acid in benzene: dimers form, i = 0.5, observed M = 120 g/mol
- Sulphur in CS2: S8 molecule, M = 256 g/mol
Quick Recall: Which Formula Uses Which Concentration Unit?
- Raoult's law: mole fraction (χ)
- Henry's law: mole fraction (χ)
- Boiling point elevation and freezing point depression: molality (m)
- Osmotic pressure: molarity (M)
Frequently asked questions
How many questions come from Solutions in NEET each year?
You can expect 3 to 5 questions from Solutions in NEET. Colligative properties (depression in freezing point, elevation in boiling point, osmotic pressure) appear almost every year. van't Hoff factor questions are very frequent in recent NEET papers.
What is the van't Hoff factor and why is it important for NEET?
The van't Hoff factor (i) measures how many particles one formula unit of a solute produces in solution. For NaCl it is 2 (Na+ and Cl-), for Na2SO4 it is 3, and for glucose it is 1. You use i to modify colligative property formulas: delta-Tf = i x Kf x m and pi = iMRT. NEET frequently asks you to calculate i from observed molar mass, or to find degree of dissociation from i.
What is the difference between molarity and molality?
Molarity (M) is moles of solute per litre of solution. Molality (m) is moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. Molality does not change with temperature because it depends on mass rather than volume. Colligative property calculations always use molality.
Why do solutions show positive or negative deviations from Raoult's law?
Raoult's law assumes A-B interactions equal A-A and B-B interactions. If A-B forces are weaker (A-B < A-A, B-B), molecules escape more easily, giving a positive deviation with higher vapour pressure than expected. Example: acetone and ethanol. If A-B forces are stronger, molecules are held more tightly, giving a negative deviation with lower vapour pressure. Example: acetone and chloroform (hydrogen bonding). Azeotropes are constant-boiling mixtures formed at the maximum or minimum of the vapour pressure curve.
How do you identify isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions?
Isotonic solutions have equal osmotic pressure. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution (higher concentration outside), water leaves the cell and it shrinks (plasmolysis in plant cells). In a hypotonic solution (lower concentration outside), water enters the cell and it swells or bursts (haemolysis in red blood cells). Intravenous fluids must be isotonic with blood plasma (about 0.9% NaCl).
What is Henry's law and when does it apply?
Henry's law states that the partial pressure of a gas above a solution is proportional to its mole fraction in solution: p = KH x chi. Higher KH means the gas is less soluble. It applies to dilute solutions of sparingly soluble gases. Applications include dissolved oxygen in blood (relevant to scuba diving and altitude sickness) and CO2 in carbonated drinks.
If observed molar mass of acetic acid in benzene is 120 g/mol, what does this mean?
Acetic acid has a normal molar mass of 60 g/mol. The observed value of 120 is twice that, so van't Hoff factor i = 60/120 = 0.5. This means molecules are associating: two molecules join through hydrogen bonding to form a cyclic dimer. In benzene (non-polar solvent), acetic acid forms dimers, reducing particle count and making colligative effects smaller than expected.
What is reverse osmosis and how is the pressure related to osmotic pressure?
In normal osmosis, solvent moves from low concentration to high concentration through a semipermeable membrane. Reverse osmosis happens when you apply external pressure greater than the osmotic pressure on the concentrated side, forcing solvent to move in the opposite direction. This is used for water desalination and drinking water purification. The minimum pressure needed equals the osmotic pressure of the solution.
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