van 't Hoff factor

The van 't Hoff factor (i) measures how many particles a dissolved substance produces in a solution. When a compound dissolves, it may break into multiple pieces or stay intact. For example, salt (NaCl) separates into two ions—Na+ and Cl-—giving it an i value close to 2. This factor helps predict properties like boiling point elevation or freezing point depression because it reflects the total number of particles present in solution, not just the amount of substance dissolved. Essentially, it quantifies the degree of particle separation or association upon dissolution.