What effect does anti-freeze have on the freezing point of water when mixed?

The correct answer highlights that adding antifreeze to water results in a decrease in the freezing point. This phenomenon is due to the principles of colligative properties, which state that adding a solute to a solvent will lower the freezing point of that solvent. In the case of water, the antifreeze, typically containing chemicals like ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, interacts with the water molecules.

When antifreeze is mixed with water, it disrupts the formation of the ice structure by interfering with the hydrogen bonding that occurs in pure water as it freezes. This means that the water must reach a lower temperature than it normally would in order for the ice to form. As a result, the freezing point of the water-antifreeze mixture becomes lower than 0 degrees Celsius, which is the freezing point of pure water. This is also why antifreeze is commonly used in car radiators and other applications where preventing freezing is crucial.