When doing a freezing point depression problem...?

[William7]

when doing a freezing point depression problem why is it advantageous to choose a solvent that has a large Kfp value?

[Katrina_K]

Because the larger the Kfp value, the larger the difference in temperature measurements, and the larger the difference in T measurements, the more accurate and precise are the measurements. For instance, when taking your measurements, you'll see a 20degrees C change so the error will be 20 +/-1 (since that's the error of a thermometer about), but with a small Kfp value you'll have data more like 2degreesC with an error of +/-1 which is poor...

[nigel]

Because the larger the Kfp value, the larger the difference in temperature measurements, and the larger the difference in T measurements, the more accurate and precise are the measurements. For instance, when taking your measurements, you'll see a 20degrees C change so the error will be 20 +/-1 (since that's the error of a thermometer about), but with a small Kfp value you'll have data more like 2degreesC with an error of +/-1 which is poor...

I didn't know these facts.

when doing a freezing point depression problem why is it advantageous to choose a solvent that has a large Kfp value?

I has this quesiton myself but never thought it was these.