Calculating Van 't Hoff Factor in Different Scenarios

The Van 't Hoff factor (i) varies depending on whether the solute is an electrolyte or a non-electrolyte:

• Non-electrolytes: These solutes do not dissociate into ions when dissolved in water. For non-electrolytes, the Van 't Hoff factor is always 1 because they do not break up into multiple particles. For example, glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is a non-electrolyte, so its Van 't Hoff factor is 1.
• Electrolytes: These solutes dissociate into ions in water. The Van 't Hoff factor for electrolytes depends on the degree of dissociation. For example, potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) dissociates into 2 K⁺ ions and 1 SO₄^2- ion, so its Van 't Hoff factor is 3. For a strong electrolyte, which dissociates completely, the factor is equal to the total number of particles produced. However, for weak electrolytes, which do not completely dissociate, the factor is less than expected and is calculated based on the degree of dissociation.