Hello, I'm Dr. Sarah, a chemist specializing in the study of solutions and their properties. It's fascinating to think about how the components of a mixture interact and influence the physical characteristics of the overall solution, like the freezing point.

Let's talk about 80 proof alcohol, a common term used for alcoholic beverages. "Proof" is a measure of the alcohol content, specifically the percentage of ethanol by volume. An 80 proof alcohol contains 40% ethanol by volume, with the remaining 60% being water and other ingredients, like flavorings and sugars.

The freezing point of a substance is the temperature at which it transitions from a liquid state to a solid state. The freezing point of a solution, like 80 proof alcohol, is influenced by the presence of solutes, in this case, ethanol dissolved in water.

Pure water has a freezing point of 0°C (32°F). However, when ethanol is added to water, it lowers the freezing point. This phenomenon is called freezing point depression.

The extent of freezing point depression is determined by the concentration of the solute, as explained by Raoult's Law:

* ΔT = Kf * m

Where:
* ΔT is the freezing point depression (the difference between the freezing point of the pure solvent and the freezing point of the solution)
* Kf is the cryoscopic constant of the solvent (for water, it's 1.86 °C/molal)
* m is the molality of the solution (moles of solute per kilogram of solvent)

**To calculate the freezing point of 80 proof alcohol, we need to consider the following:**


1. Determine the molality of the solution.
* We need to know the mass of ethanol and water in a given volume of 80 proof alcohol.
* For example, in 100 mL of 80 proof alcohol, there are 40 mL of ethanol and 60 mL of water.
* We then need to convert these volumes to mass using the densities of ethanol and water.
* Finally, we calculate the molality using the mass of ethanol and the mass of water.


2. Apply Raoult's Law.
* We multiply the molality by the cryoscopic constant of water to determine the freezing point depression.

3. **Subtract the freezing point depression from the freezing point of pure water (0°C).**

Important Notes:

* This calculation is a simplified approach. In reality, the freezing point of 80 proof alcohol may be slightly influenced by the presence of other ingredients besides ethanol and water.
* The freezing point of 80 proof alcohol is below 0°C. Therefore, it will not freeze at typical refrigerator temperatures.

**In summary, the freezing point of 80 proof alcohol is lower than the freezing point of pure water due to the presence of ethanol. The exact freezing point can be calculated using Raoult's Law and the molality of the solution.**

Let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on any of the concepts or calculations involved. I'm happy to answer any further questions you might have.
read more >>

It is possible to freeze vodka, but not in a typical home freezer. The freezing point of 80 proof vodka is -26.95-- C or -16.51-- F, while the temperature of most home freezers is around -17-- C.read more >>