UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK

Mathematics, Science & Research Department
General Chemistry 2
Module 4: Concentration of Solutions

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to

use different ways of expressing concentration of solutions:
percent by mass, mole fraction, molarity, molality, percent
by volume, percent by mass, and ppm.

Concentration of Solutions
Solutions can be described qualitatively or quantitatively based on the amount of solute relative to a
given amount of solvent. Qualitatively, we can describe solutions as either dilute or concentrated. A
diluted solution contains a relatively small amount of solute, whereas a concentrated solution contains
relatively large amount of solute. For example, a solution containing 5 g of salt in 100 mL of water is
diluted, while a solution containing 40 g of salt in the same volume of water is concentrated.
In industries and laboratories, quantitative measures of solution concentrations are necessary. There
are many ways of expressing the quantity of solute present in a given amount of solvent.

Percent by Mass
The percent by mass is the ratio of the mass of a solute to the mass of the solution multiplied by 100.

Mass of Solution = Mass of Solute + Mass of Solvent

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Examples:
1. A sample of 0.892 g of sodium chloride (NaCl) is dissolved in 54.6 g of water (H2O) to make a
brine solution. What is the percent by mass of sodium chloride in the solution?

Solution:
Given: mass of solute (NaCl) = 0.892 g
mass of solvent (H2O) = 54.6 g
mass of solute
Computation: % by mass = mass x 100
of solute+mass of solvent
mass of solute
% by mass = mass x 100
of solution
0.892 g
% by mass = 55.492 g x 100
% by mass = 1.61 %

2. A sample of benzoic acid solution in soda is 0.50% by mass. What mass of benzoic acid is
present in 150 g solution?

Solution:
Given: mass of solution: 150 g
% by mass = 0.50 %
Computation:
mass of solute
% by mass = mass x 100
of solution
% by mass x mass of solution = mass of solute x 100
% by mass x mass of solution
𝑚ass of solute = 100
0.50 x 150 g
mass of solute = = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 𝐠
100

Percent by Volume
The percent by volume is the ratio of the volume (mL) of solute (liquid) to the volume of the solution
multiplied by 100.

Volume of Solution = Volume of Solute + Volume of Solvent

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Examples:
1. What is the percent by volume of a solution that contains 3.5 mL acetic acid and 100 mL water?

Solution:
Given: volume of solute (acetic acid) = 3.5 mL
volume of solvent (water) = 100 mL
Computation:
volume of solute
% by volume = x 100
volume of solute + volume of solvent
3.5 mL
% by volume = 3.5 mL+100 mL x 100
3.5 mL
% by volume = 103.5 mL x 100

% by volume = 𝟑. 𝟒 %
2. What is the percent by volume of a solution formed by mixing 25 mL of isopropanol with 45 mL
of water?

Solution:
Given: volume of solute (isopropanol) = 25 mL
volume of solvent (water) = 45 mL
Computation:
volume of solute
% by volume = x 100
volume of solute + volume of solvent
25 mL
% by volume = 25 mL+45 mL x 100
25 mL
% by volume = 70 mL x 100

% by volume = 𝟑𝟓. 𝟕𝟏 %

Mole Fraction
Mole fraction (X) is the ratio of the number of moles of one component (nA) to the total number of
moles in the solution (nA + nB).
moles of component
mole fraction =
total moles of solution
𝑛𝐴 𝑛𝐵
𝑋𝐴 = or 𝑋𝐵 =
𝑛𝐴 + 𝑛𝐵 𝑛𝐴 + 𝑛𝐵

The sum of the mole fractions of the components must be equal to 1.

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Examples:
1. What is the mole fraction of HCl if a solution contains 1.00 mole of HCl and 8.00 moles of water?

Solution:
Given: 1.00 mole of HCl (solute)
8.00 moles of H2O (solvent)
Computation:
nA
XA =
nA + nB
1 mol
mole fraction of HCl (solute) =
1 mol+ 8 mol
1 mol
mole fraction of HCl (solute) = = 0.11
9 mol
nB
XA =
nA + nB
8 mol
mole fraction of H2 O (solvent) =
1 mol+ 8 mol
8 mol
mole fraction of H2 O (solvent) = = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟗
9 mol

2. Maple syrup is a colored solution with water as its solvent. What is the mole fraction of solute
and solvent in a maple syrup that contains 10.0 g sucrose (C12H22O11) and 50.0 g water (H2O)?

Solution:
Given: mass of sucrose (solute) = 10.0 g
mass of water (solvent) = 50.0 g
Computation:
Molar Mass of C12H22O11 = C: 12 x 12 = 144
H: 22 x 1 = 22
O: 11 x 16 = 176
342 g/mol
Molar Mass of H2O = H: 2 x 1 = 2
O: 1 x 16 = 16
18 g/mol
1 mol C12 H22 O11
10.0 g C12H22O11 x = 0.0292 𝑚𝑜𝑙
342 g C12 H22 O11

1 mol H2 O
50.0 g H2O x = 2.78 𝑚𝑜𝑙
18 g H2 O

Total moles of solution = 0.0292 mol + 2.78 mol = 2.81 mol

nA 0.0292 mol
XA = = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟎𝟒
nA + nB 2.81 mol

nB 2.78 mol
XB = = = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟗
nA + nB 2.81 mol

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Molarity (M)
Molarity of a solution is the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is calculated by dividing
the number of moles of solute by the volume of solution in liters.
The molarity is symbolized by M, thus 2 M is equivalent to 2 mol/L.
mole of solute
Molarity =
volume of solution in L
Examples:
1. A 684 g sucrose (C12H22O11) is mixed into water until there is exactly 1.00 liter of solution. What
is the molarity of the solution?
Solution:
Given: mass of solute (sucrose) = 684 g C12H22O11
Volume of solution = 1.00 L
Computation:
Molar Mass of C12H22O11 = C: 12 x 12 = 144
H: 22 x 1 = 22
O: 11 x 16 = 176
342 g/mol
1 mol C12 H22 O11
Mole of Solute = 684 g C12H22O11 x = 2.00 mol
342 g C12 H22 O11

mole of solute 2.00 mol mol

Molarity = = = 2.00 = 2.00 M
volume of solution in L 1.00 L L

2. In a research, it has been found that millions of bottled mineral waters contain benzene (C 6H6)
at molarity levels higher than concentrations considered lethal for rats. A sample of a 250 mL
mineral water has a concentration of 0.000151 M. What is the mass of benzene in the sample?

Solution:
mol
Given: molarity of the solution = 0.000151 L

Volume of solution = 250 mL

Computation:
Molar Mass of C6H6 = C: 12 x 6 = 72
H: 1 x 6 = 6
78 g/mol

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 1𝐿
Volume of solution in L = 250 𝑚𝐿 𝑥 = 0.250 𝐿
1000 𝑚𝐿

mole of solute
Molarity =
volume of solution in L

Mole of solute = molarity x volume of solution in L

Mole of solute = 0.000151 mol/L x 0.250 L = 0.0000378 mol
78 g C H
0.0000378 mol C6H6 x 1 mol C6 H6 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟗𝟒 𝒈 𝑪𝟔 𝑯𝟔
6 6

Molality (m)
The molality (m) of a solution is the number of moles of solute dissolved per kilogram of solvent.
𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 =
𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐤𝐠

Examples:
1. Tina bought a drink that consists of 2.00 g aspartame (C14H18N2O5) dissolved in 250 g H2O.
aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods
and beverages. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). What is the
molality of the aspartame solution?

Solution:
Given: mass of solute (aspartame) = 2.00 g
Mass of solvent (water) = 250 g
Computation:
Molar Mass of C14H18N2O5 = C: 12 x 14 = 168
H: 1 x 8 = 8
N: 14 x 2 = 28
O: 16 x 5 = 80
294 g/mol

1 mol C14 H18 N2 O5

mole of solute = 2.0 g C14H18N2O5 x = 0.00680 mol
294 g C14 H18 N2 O5
1 kg
mass of solvent in kg = 250 g x = 0.250 kg
1000 g
mole of solute 0.00680 mol mol
molality = mass of solvent in kg = = 0.0272 or 0.0272 𝑚
0.250 kg kg

2. Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid of cacao plant. It is found in chocolate, leaves of the tea plant,
and cola nut. How many grams of theobromine (C7H8N4O2) should be dissolved in 375 g water
to make 3.75 m theobromine solution?

Solution:
Given: mass of solvent (water) = 375 g
𝑚𝑜𝑙
Molality of the solution = 3.75 𝑘𝑔
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 Computation:
Molar Mass of C7H8N4O2 = C: 12 x 7 = 84
H: 1 x 8 = 8
N: 14 x 4 = 56
O: 16 x 2 = 32
g
180 mol
1 kg
mass of solvent in kg = 375 g x 1000 g = 0.375 kg

moles of solute
molality =
mass of solvent in kg

mole of solute = molality x mass of solvent in kg

mol
mole of solute = 3.75 x 0.375 kg = 1.41 mol
kg

180 g C7 H8 N4 O2
mole of solute = 1.41 mol C7 H8 N4 O2 x = 𝟐𝟓𝟒 𝐠 𝐂𝟕 𝐇𝟖 𝐍𝟒 𝐎𝟐
1 mol C7 H8 N4 O2

Parts per Million (ppm)

Parts per million is calculated by taking the mass of solute in mg and dividing it by volume of solution
in L.
mass of solute in mg
ppm =
volume of solution in L
Examples:
1. Brine is a preservative for vegetables, fish, fruit, and meat. It prevents the growth of bacteria.
What is the concentration in ppm of the solution made by dissolving 2.5 g of NaCl in enough
water to make 125 mL of brine solution?
Solution:
Given: mass of solute = 2.5 g
mass of solution = 125 mL
Computation:
1000 𝑚𝑔
mass of solute in mg = 2.5 𝑔 𝑥 = 2.5 𝑥 103 𝑚𝑔
1𝑔

1𝐿
volume of solution in L = 125 𝑚𝐿 𝑥 = 0.125 𝐿
1000 𝑚𝐿

mass of solute in mg 2.5 x 103 mg

ppm = = = 2.0 x 104 ppm
volume of solution in L 0.125 L

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A solution is prepared by dissolving 4.00 g of NaOH in 100.00 g of water. The volume of the resulting
solution is 102.00 mL. Calculate the following:
a. Mole fraction of NaOH
b. Molarity of the solution
c. Molality of the solution
d. Mass percent of NaOH

1. What is the percent by mass of a silver ring that has a mass of 12.0 g and contains 11.1 g pure
silver?
2. Rubbing alcohol, C3H7OH, is sold as a 70% solution for external use only. What volume of
pure C3H7OH is present in a 500.0 mL bottle?
3. What is the mole fraction of solute in a solution that has 3.50 g sucrose (molar mass=342) and
100.0 g water (molar mass = 18)?
4. How many grams of sugar monosaccharide, C6H12O6, should be present in450.0 g water to
make a 8.75 m sugar solution?
5. What volume of a 0.25 mol/L salt solution in the kitchen contains 5.8 g of sodium chloride?

What is the importance of knowing the concentration of solution?

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Baguio, S. S. (2017). Breaking Through General Chemistry 2. Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc.
Rodil, M. S., & Cuarto, C. R. (2018). Conceptual Science and Beyond General Chemistry 2. Quezon
City: Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.

PREPARED BY: GASTARDO, ARIANA LHENZY T.

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