Abstract
CORRECT determinations of the freezing-point of dilute solutions are of fundamental importance in connection with the general theory of the subject, and it is therefore anything but satisfactory to find that, in spite of the closeness with which the individual results of the same observer agree amongst themselves, the results of different observers are in many cases widely separated. For example, the following values have been given as the molecular depression of the freezing-point in the case of a 1 per cent, aqueous solution of sugar:—2˙02, Arrhenius; 2˙07, Raoult; 2˙01, Pickering; 2˙18, H. C. Jones; 1˙81, Loomis. The results of Jones and Loomis, both of whom claim increased accuracy for the methods they employ, differ by some 18 per cent. The theoretical value of the molecular depression, calculated from the melting-point and heat of fusion of ice, is 1˙86. The cause of these differences has given rise to much discussion. Pickering has attempted to show that Jones's results, wherein the temperature was read to the ten-thousandth of a degree, were affected by thermometer errors. Jones has replied that his thermometer was tested. Kohlrausch has drawn attention to probable sources of error in Jones's method, but is compelled to admit that the differences between the results of Jones and Loomis must, in the main, be due to some unknown source of error.
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RODGER, J. The Freezing-Point of Dilute Solutions. Nature 51, 617 (1895). https://doi.org/10.1038/051617b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/051617b0