1. For a solute that does not dissociate or associate the vant’s hoff factor is equal to 1 (i = 1) and the molar mass will be close to the actual molar mass.
2. For that solute that associate to form higher oligomers in solution, the van’t Hoff factor will be less than 1 (i < 1) and the observed molar mass will be greater than the actual molar mass.
3. For solutes that dissociates into their constituent ions the van’t Hoff factor will be more than one (i > 1) and the observed molar mass will be less than the normal molar mass.