Colligative properties

A colligative property is a property that depends on the relative numbers of solute and solvent molecules and not on the chemical nature of the solute.

Examples of major colligative properties:
1. Lowering of vapor pressure
2. Raising of the boiling point
3. Freezing point depression
4. Osmosis

Properties (such as freezing-point depression) of solutions that vary according to how much solute is in the solution.

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From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.