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ChemQuest 39
Name: ____________________________
Date: _______________
Hour: _____

Information: Molarity
Concentration is a term that describes the amount of solute that is dissolved in a solution.
Concentrated solutions contain a lot of dissolved solute, but dilute solutions contain only a little.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Consider the terms "concentrated" and "dilute". Are these qualitative or quantitative terms?
These are qualitative terms: very general and do not include the magnitude or quantity.

2. One way of quantitatively measuring solution concentration is with units of molarity, symbolized
by M. You see 1.7 liters (L) of a sodium chloride and water solution. The label on the bottle
reads "1.5 M NaCl". You don't know what molarity is, but you decide to find out. After
evaporating the water out of the solution you discover that there are about 149 grams of salt.
Using this information, which of the following formulas is/are correct for finding molarity?
grams of solute moles of solute
A) Molarity = B) Molarity =
moles of solute liters of solution
149g ÷ 58.5g/mol = 2.547 mol 1.5 = 2.547 mol ÷ 1.7 L

3. Using the equation you discovered in question two, calculate the molarity of each of the
following solutions.
A) A solution is prepared by dissolving 24.9 g of CaCl2 in 210 mL (which 0.210 L) of solution.

1.07 M Change g to mol: 24.9g ÷ 111.1g/mol = 0.224 mol

Molarity = mol ÷ L = 0.224 ÷ 0.210 = 1.07 M

B) A solution contains 12.9 g of Na2SO4 in 325 mL of solution.

0.279 M Change g to mol: 12.9 ÷ 142.1g/mol = 0.09078 mol

Molarity = mol ÷ L = 0.09078mol ÷ 0.325L = 0.279 M

4. Verify that I need 2.15 moles of Ca(NO3)2 to make 358 mL of a 6.00 molar solution.

mol = (Molarity)(Liters) = (6.00M)(0.358L) = 2.15 mol

5. Verify that it takes 80.8 g of sodium chloride to make 425 mL of a 3.25 M solution.

mol = (Molarity)(Liters) = (3.25M)(0.425L) = 1.38 mol

(1.38 mol)(58.5g/mol) = 80.7 g
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6. Consider 670 mL of a 4.10 M solution of Mg(NO3)2 setting in a beaker. If you evaporate all 670
mL of the solution, how many grams of solute would be left in the beaker?

407.8g mol = (Molarity)(Liters) = (4.10M)(0.670L) = 2.747 mol

convert mol to g: (2.747mol)(148.3g/mol) = 407.8g

Information: Molality
Molality is another way of expressing solution concentration. The symbol for molality is m.
Whereas molarity (M) represents the ratio of moles solute to liters of solution, the molality (m) is the
ratio of moles solute to kilograms of solvent. It can be expressed using the following formula:
moles of solute
molality =
kg solvent

Critical Thinking Questions

7. Consider a solution that is prepared by adding 1.34 moles of sodium nitrate to 2.5 kg of water.
What is the molality of the solution?

0.536 m m = 1.34mol ÷ 2.5kg = 0.536 m

8. Considering the data given in question 7, is this enough data to find the molarity? If so, calculate
the molarity. If not, explain why not.

No, because we don’t know the total volume of the solution.

9. What is the molality of a solution that is made by dissolving 32.6 g of Na2SO4 in 475 g of water?
0.483 m Convert g to mol: 32.6g ÷ 142.1g/mol = 0.229 mol
molality = mol/kg = 0.229mol ÷ 0.475kg = 0.483 m

10. Consider 2.35 moles of sodium chloride are dissolved in 1.21 kg of solution to make 1.29 liters.
Calculate and compare the molarity and molality.

Molarity: 1.82 M M = mol ÷ L = 2.35mol ÷ 1.29 L = 1.82 M

molality: 1.94 m m = mol ÷ kg = 2.35mol ÷ 1.21 kg = 1.94 m

11. If 26.45g of Na2SO4 are dissolved in 1.10 kg of solution to make 1.24 L, calculate both the
molarity and the molality of the resulting solution.

Convert g to mol: 26.45g ÷ 142.1g/mol = 0.186mol

Molarity: 0.150 M M = mol ÷ L = 0.186mol ÷ 1.24 L = 0.150 M

molality: 0.169 m m = mol ÷ kg = 0.186mol ÷ 1.10kg = 0.169 m

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 120

Information: Mole Fraction

Another way of expressing solution concentration is called “mole fraction”. The mole fraction
(symbolized by X) of the solute or of the solvent can be calculated using the following equations:
mol solute mol solvent
X solute = X solvent =
(mol solute + mol solvent ) (mol solute + mol solvent )
Note: both the solute and the solvent must be converted to moles when finding the mole fraction!

Critical Thinking Questions

12. Prove that the mole fraction of salt (XNaCl) equals 0.049 when 14.25 g of NaCl is dissolved in
85.0 g of H2O.
14.25g ÷ 58.5g/mol = 0.2436 mol NaCl 85.0g ÷ 18.0g/mol = 4.722 mol H2O
mol NaCl 0.2436
X NaCl = = = 0.049
(mol NaCl + mol H 2O ) (0.2436 + 4.722)

13. Find the mole fraction of water (Xwater) for the solution described in question 12.
mol H 2O 4.722
X H 2O = = = 0.951
(mol H 2O + mol NaCl ) (0.2436 + 4.722)
14. Prove that Xsolute + Xsolvent = 1.

The answer from question 12 + answer to question 13 = 1

15. In a certain salt water solution, the mole fraction of salt is 0.18. Find the mole fraction of water.
1.00 – 0.18 = 0.82

Information: Mass Percent Composition

Mass percent composition is similar to the mole fraction except the amounts of solute and solvent are
in grams instead of moles. Here is the formula for finding the mass percent of a solute:
mass solute
mass% solute = • 100
(mass solute + mass solvent )

Critical Thinking Questions

16. Prove that the mass percent of salt is 14.36% in the solution described in question 12.
mass NaCl 14.25
mass% NaCl = • 100 = • 100 = 14.36%
(mass NaCl + mass H 2 O ) 14.25 + 85.0
17. Calculate the mass percent of sodium phosphate if 12.5g of it are dissolved in 250 mL of water.
(Note: 1 mL of water has a mass of 1 g.)
Because 1 mL = 1g, the mass of H2O = 250 g
mass Na 3 PO 4 12.5
mass% Na 3 PO 4 = • 100 = • 100 = 4.76%
(mass Na 3PO 4 + mass H 2 O ) 12.55 + 250
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ChemQuest 40
Name: ____________________________
Date: _______________
Hour: _____

Introduction Question: Melting Ice

1. In colder climates during the winter, people put salt on the roads and walkways to melt ice.
Why do people do this? Why does salt melt the ice?
Salt actually lowers the freezing point of water so that water will not freeze until much
lower temperatures. Salt water remains a liquid at 0oC

Information: Dissociation and Total Molality of Particles

When you dissolve a solute in a solvent, the resulting solution has slightly different properties than
the original solvent. For example, salt water has a different freezing point and boiling point than pure
water. The salt interferes with water’s ability to freeze and boil.

When ionic compounds dissolve, they dissociate. When an ionic compound dissociates that means
that it breaks up into ions. For example, salt (sodium chloride) breaks up into sodium ions and
chloride ions. This process is represented in the following balanced equation:
NaCl
Na+ + Cl-

Note for the above equation that Cl- does not need to be written as Cl2 because Cl- is a chloride ion
and not a lone chlorine atom.

Since calcium nitrate is an ionic compound it also dissociates as shown below:

Ca(NO3)2
Ca2+ + 2 NO3-

Covalent molecules do not dissociate. Although they may dissolve, they do not break up into ions.

Critical Thinking Questions

2. Write the balanced equation for the dissociation of magnesium chloride.

MgCl2
Mg2+ + 2 Cl-

3. Write the balanced equation for the dissociation of ammonium sulfate.

(NH4)2SO4
2 NH4+ + SO42-

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 122

4. Consider calcium nitrate. Each calcium nitrate breaks up into one calcium ion and two nitrate
ions according to the balanced equation given in the information section. If you take one
mole of calcium nitrate and put it in water, it will dissociate.
a) How many moles of calcium ions and how many moles of nitrate ions will there be in the
solution?
One mole of calcium ions and two moles of nitrate ions.

b) What is the total number of moles of all ions in the solution?

3; one mole of calcium ions plus two moles of nitrate ions equal a total of three moles.

5. A solution is made so that it is 2.5 M Ca(NO3)2. Therefore the concentration of Ca2+ is 2.5 M
and the concentration of NO3- is 5.0 M. The total concentration of all particles is 7.5 M.
Explain.
Since each mole of Ca(NO3)2 breaks up into 1 mole of Ca2+, the concentration of Ca2+ would
be the same as the concentration of Ca(NO3)2. Since each mole of Ca(NO3)2 breaks up into 2
moles of NO3-, the concentration of NO3- is twice the concentration of Ca(NO3)2.

6. A solution is made so that it the concentration is 3.0 m MgCl2. What is the molality of Mg2+
and Cl- ions? What is the total molality of all particles in the solution?

Mg2+ ___3.0m___ Cl- ___6.0m___ Total molality of all particles: ___9.0m_____

7. A solution is prepared by dissolving 45.7 g of sodium carbonate in 200 g of water.

a) What is the molality of the sodium carbonate?
45.7 g 0.431mol
= 0.431mol = 2.16m
106g / mol 0.200kg
b) What is the total molality of all particles in the solution?
6.48m; Na2CO3
2 Na+ + CO32- ; Since Na2CO3 breaks into 3 total ions, the total
molality is 3(2.16) = 6.48m

8. Consider sugar (C6H12O6) , a covalent molecule. If a solution is made so that the

concentration is 3.5 m in sugar, then what is the total molality of particles?
3.5m; Covalent compounds don’t break up into ions so the total molality is still 3.5m.

Information: Total Molality of Particles and Changes in Boiling/Freezing Points

You may be wondering how all of this ties together. We have seen that adding a solute changes the
boiling and freezing points of solvents. The amount of the change depends on how much solute is
added. Equations relating the change in boiling or freezing point and the molality is shown below:

∆Tbp = (mT)(Kbp) for boiling point ∆Tfp = (mT)(Kfp) for freezing point

Note: mT is the total molality of particles. Kbp and Kfp are constants called the molal boiling point
elevation constant and the molal freezing point depression constant respectively. Kbp for water is
0.515 oC/m and Kfp for water is 1.853 oC/m.
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Critical Thinking Questions

9. What is the freezing point of a 2.5 m solution of salt water. Hints: first find ∆Tfp and then
subtract the change from the original freezing point (0oC for water). Also, remember mT is
not 2.5 m in this problem.
mT = 2.5(2) = 5.0 (recall that NaCl breaks into Na+ and Cl-)
∆Tfp = (mT)(Kfp) = (5.0)(1.853) = 9.3oC
Tfp = 0oC – 9.3oC = – 9.3oC

10. Find the boiling point of a 3.7 m solution of calcium chloride.

mT = (3.7)(3) = 11.1 (recall that CaCl2 breaks into Ca2+ and two Cl-)
∆Tbp = (mT)(Kbp) = (11.1)(0.515) = 5.72oC
Tbp = 100oC + 5.72oC = 105.72oC

11. What is the freezing point of a sugar solution in which the concentration of sugar is 2.25m?
Note: sugar is covalent so it dissolves but it does not dissociate.
∆Tfp = (mT)(Kfp) = (2.25)(1.853) = 4.17oC
Tfp = 0oC – 4.17oC = – 4.17oC

Information: Raoult’s Law

A solution will almost always have a lower vapor pressure than the pure solvent. For example, salt
water will have a lower vapor pressure than pure water. The vapor pressure of a solution (Psolution) is
related to the vapor pressure of the pure solvent (Psolvent) by the mole fraction of the solvent (Xsolvent)
in an equation known as Raoult’s Law:
Psolution = (Xsolvent)(Psolvent)

Critical Thinking Questions

12. What is the vapor pressure of water at 20oC is 2.3 kPa. What is the vapor pressure of a
solution formed by dissolving 21.5g of LiCl in 84.3g of H2O?
21.5 g 84.3g
= 0.507mol = 4.68mol
42.44 g / mol 18.02 g / mol

4.68
x solvent = = 0.902 Psolution = (Xsolvent)(Psolvent) = (0.902)(2.3) = 2.08 kPa
(4.68 + 0.507)

Copyright 2002-2004 by Jason Neil. All rights reserved.

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 124

ChemQuest 41
Name: ____________________________
Date: _______________
Hour: _____

Information: Molar Mass

As you know, the molar mass of any substance is how much mass (measured in grams) one mole of a
substance has. The units for molar mass are g/mol. If you know that 2.0 moles of water have a mass
of 36.0 g, you can find the molar mass of water by dividing 36.0 g by 2.0 moles to get 18.0 g/mol.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. If 2.75 moles of a certain compound has a mass of 125.9 g, what is the molar mass of the
compound?
125.9 g
= 45.8 g/mol
2.75mol

2. If you put 2.53x1024 molecules of an unknown compound on a balance you will discover that the
mass is 757.8 g. What is the identity of the unknown compound? (Hint: find the molar mass and
then calculate the molar masses of the following compounds.)

A) C10H12O B) C6H12O6 C) C8H18 D) C10H8NO

2.53 x10 24 757.8 g

= 4.20 mol = 180.3 g/mol
B has a molar mass of 180 g/mol also
6.02 x10 23 4.20mol

Information: Relating Molar Mass and Colligative Properties

One of the ways to determine the molar mass of a compound is by experiments involving colligative
properties. By measuring the temperature changes of solutions, it is possible to calculate the molality
of the solution and from the molality you can determine the molar mass. The following calculations
walk you through the process. Please note that the process used here is valid only for covalent
compounds.
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Critical Thinking Questions

3. When 135 g of an unknown covalent compound is dissolved in 450 g of water, the freezing point
of the solution is –3.21oC. Find the molar mass of the covalent compound. Follow these steps…

a) What is the molality of the solution? (Use ∆Tfp = mT Kfp and solve for mT. Note that since
this is a covalent compound mT equals the molality of the solute because covalent compounds
don’t dissociate.)

∆Tfp = mT Kfp
mT = ∆Tfp ÷ Kfp = (3.21) ÷ 1.853 = 1.73 m

b) How many moles of solute were dissolved? (Multiply your answer to part a by the kilograms
of solvent.)

(1.73m)(0.450kg) = 0.779 mol

c) Calculate the molar mass of the compound. (Take the mass of the solute given in the problem
and divide by your answer to part b.)

135g ÷ 0.779mol = 173 g/mol

4. Find the molar mass of a covalent compound if 210 g of the substance is dissolved in 810 g of
water changes the boiling point of the solution to 101.3 oC.

∆Tbp = mT Kbp
mT = ∆Tbp ÷ Kbp = (1.3) ÷ 0.515 = 2.52 m

(2.52m)(0.810kg) = 2.04 mol
210 g ÷ 2.04 mol = 103 g/mol

5. Find the molar mass of a covalent compound if 38.5 g dissolves in 520 g of water to give a
freezing point of –2.15oC.

∆Tfp = mT Kfp
mT = ∆Tfp ÷ Kfp = 2.15 ÷ 1.853 = 1.16 m

(1.16m)(0.520 kg) = 0.603 mol
38.5g ÷ 0.603 mol = 63.8 g/mol

Copyright 2002-2004 by Jason Neil. All rights reserved.

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