Which of the following is true about freezing point depression?

Freezing point depression is a colligative property, which means it depends on the number of solute particles in a solution rather than their identity. When a solute is added to a solvent (for example, salt applied to ice), it disrupts the formation of the orderly crystal lattice required for the solid state of the solvent. This results in a lower temperature being required to achieve the solid state, effectively lowering the freezing point of the solution compared to that of the pure solvent.

In practical terms, this phenomenon is commonly observed when substances like salt are used to de-ice roads in the winter. The salt lowers the freezing point of the water, preventing it from turning to ice at 0 degrees Celsius, which is the standard freezing point for pure water. This is a fundamental concept in chemistry that illustrates how the introduction of solute particles into a solvent affects its physical properties.