Pure water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. Would tap water likely freeze and boil at those exact temperatures? Why or why not?

1 Answer
Al E.
May 24, 2018

Recall the colligative properties of freezing point depression and boiling point elevation.

In proportion to the molality product of the solute, (#im#), the boiling point will raise and the freezing point will decrease.

Now, consider tap water. You know this!

Is tap water pure water? Of course not! It's a solution of many ions of metals or other inorganic compounds.

Hence, it has a varied boiling and melting point, by definition.

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