Step 1: Colligative properties (such as boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, osmotic pressure, and vapor pressure lowering) depend only on the number of solute particles, not their identity.
Step 2: These properties are a function of solute concentration, not the chemical nature of solute or solvent.
Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): Molal depression constant $ k_f $ is given by $ \frac{M_1 R T_f}{\Delta S_{\text{fus}}} $, where symbols have their usual meaning.
Statement (II): $ k_f $ for benzene is less than the $ k_f $ for water.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below: