Solute molar mass determination from colligative

The determination of single molar mass averages from simple solution properties, such as colligative and viscosity methods, has not been a popular held of research in the past few years. The state of the art has been reviewed by Slade and by Billingham. Since the publication of ref. 2, two major manufacturers (Perkin-Elmer and Hewlett-Packard) have withdrawn from the market so that there is now a much reduced choice in equipment for membrane osmometry and for vapour pressure osmometry. Membrane osmometry as a technique has received virtually no attention during the review period, although its use has been reported in a number of papers. Oman has described studies of the osmotic coefficients of aqueous polyelectrolytes, and Oman and Batho describe theoretical models for... 

Colligative properties arise from the number, not the type, of solute particles. Compared to pure solvent, a solution has lower vapor pressure (RaoulLs law), elevated boiling point, and depressed freezing point, and it gives rise to osmotic pressure. Colligative properties are used to determine solute molar mass osmotic pressure gives the most precise measurements. 

Each colligative property relates concentration to some measurable quantity—the number of degrees the freezing point is lowered, the magnitude of osmotic pressure created, and so forth. From these measurements, we can determine the amount (mol) of solute particles and, for a known mass of solute, the molar mass of the solute as well. 

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