In: Chemistry
Explain what may cause a melting point to be artificially high.
Also explain may cause a melting point to be artificially low.
Generally when we add a impurity to a solvent and the impurity dissolves in it, then the melting point of the solvent decreases. This because depression in freezing point is directly proportional to molality of solution. So in order to make melting point artificially low, add a soluble impurity to the solvent.
But this depression in freezing point occurs until the eutectic point is reached. After reaching eutectic point, if further solute (impurity) is added, this results in increase in melting point. So when enough solute is added into the solvent, the melting point can be made artificially high that that of the pure solvent.