[FabulousGal]

The question reads:

A sample you have obtained is not completely free of solvent. What effect will this have on the observed melting point?

I am assuming that it would lower the melting point but I'm unsure. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Arkcon]

Can you formulate a complete answer for this question?  As in, what will the solvent actually do to lower melting point?

[FabulousGal]

Complete answer not yet. My thinking was that any solvent left would cause the substance to be impure. In the lab we done all of the impure substances had lower melting points. I believe this would be because it is easier to break the bonds of an impure substance.

[Vidya]

You are not wrong 

[discodermolide]

Why should the bonds in an impure substance be easier to break? If you have I₂ with some impurity in it,  the bond strength of iodine is the same in pure I₂ and I₂ containing the impurity.

[Vidya]

it should not be the bonds but intermolecular forces among the molecules.

[FabulousGal]

Thank you for the help.

[ramboacid]

Pure organic compounds have a very prevalent crystal lattice structure. The pure compound thus presents a long-rage order throughout, and thus intermolecular forces that hold the crystal together are equal throughout as well. The impurities disrupt these intermolecular forces, causing some parts to melt at different temperatures and thus creates a melting point "range" that includes temperatures lower than the actual melting point.