Methods of Expressing

Concentration of Solutions

Percent by mass
most frequently used
percent by mass = mass solute x 100
mass solution
where:
mass solution = mass solute + mass solvent
percent by =
mass solute x 100
mass
mass solute + mass solvent

solute and solution must be in the same units

Percent by mass
Example:
1. What is the percent by mass, % (m/m),
concentration of sucrose (table sugar) in a
solution made by dissolving 5.4 g of sucrose in
enough water to give 87.3 g of solution?
Ans. 6.2% (m/m)
2. How many grams of sucrose must be added
to 375 g of water to prepare a 2.65 % (m/m)
solution of sucrose?
Ans. 10.2 g

Percent by volume
used when both the solute and solvent are
liquids or gases
more convenient to use volumes than masses
percent by volume = volume solute x 100
volume solution

solute and solution volume units must be the

same

Percent by volume
Example:
80.0 mL of methyl alcohol and 80.0 mL of
water are mixed to give a solution that has a
final volume of 154 mL. What is the
concentration of the solution expressed as
percent by volume methyl alcohol?
Ans. 51.9 % (v/v)

Mass-Volume Percent
1.In the treatment of certain illnesses of the
human body, a 0.92% (m/v) sodium chloride
(NaCl) solution is administered intravenously.
How many grams of sodium chloride are
required to prepare 345 mL of this solution?
Ans. 3.2 g NaCl
2. How many grams of glucose (C6H12O6) are
needed to prepare 500. mL of a 4.50% (m/v)
glucose-water solution?
Ans: 22.5 g C6H12O6

Molarity
ratio giving the number of moles per liter of
solution
Molarity (M) = moles of solute
liter of solution
commonly used for solutions
units are specific (moles/liter)

Molarity
Example:
1. What is the molarity of 2.37 moles of KNO3
dissolved in enough water to give 650. mL of
solution.
ans. 3.65 mol/L=3.65 M
3. What is the molar concentration of 45.0 g of
calcium chloride in 250.0 mL of solution?
ans. 1.62 mol/L = 1.62 M
2. How much in g of barium sulfate is needed to
make a 360 mL of 0.670 M barium sulfate
solution?
ans. 56.3 g

Assignment. Show your solutions.

1. What is the percent by mass concentration
of K3PO4 in a solution made by dissolving
13.4 g of K3PO4 in enough water to give 55.4
g of solution?
2. How many grams of LiNO3 must be added to
25.0 g of water to prepare a 5.00 % solution
of LiNO3?
3. How many grams of glucose (C6H12O6) are
needed to prepare 500. mL of a 4.50% (m/v)
glucose-water solution?

Assignment (contd)
4. Acetone, C3H6O, is the main ingredient of nail
polish remover. A solution is made up by
adding 35.0 mL of acetone (d=0.790 g/mL) to
ethyl alcohol, C2H6O (d=0.789 g/mL.
Assuming volumes are additive, calculate
a. the mass percent of acetone in the solution
b. the volume percent of ethyl alcohol in the
solution.

Assignment (contd)
5. 25.0 g of NaOH dissolved in enough water
to give 2.50 L of solution, what is its molar
concentration?