colligative

American  

[kol-i-gey-tiv] / ˈkɒl ɪˌgeɪ tɪv /

adjective

Physical Chemistry.

1. (of the properties of a substance) depending on the number of molecules or atoms rather than on their nature.

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colligative British  

/ kəˈlɪɡətɪv /

adjective

1. (of a physical property of a substance) depending on the concentrations of atoms, ions, and molecules that are present rather than on their nature

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Etymology

Origin of colligative

First recorded in 1900–05; colligate + -ive

Example Sentences

Water containing dissolved solids such as salt and sweeteners are affected by something we refer to as colligative properties.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2021

The solid and gaseous phases, therefore, are composed of solvent only, and so transitions between these phases are not subject to colligative effects.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Ionic compounds may not completely dissociate in solution due to activity effects, in which case observed colligative effects may be less than predicted.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

While this interpretation is useful, it does not account for several important aspects of the colligative nature of vapor pressure lowering.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Volume Relations.17—When dealing with colligative properties of liquids it is equally necessary to ensure comparability of conditions.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various