Calculations of Solution Concentration

You may use a periodic table, but you may NOT use a calculator. Express all answers as numbers, not words.

Methods of Calculating Solution Concentration

Our modified California State Standard: Students know how to calculate the concentration of a solute in terms of molarity and percent composition.

Molarity describes the concentration of a solution in moles of solute divided by liters of solution. Masses of solute must first be converted to moles using the molar mass of the solute. This is the most widely used unit for concentration when preparing solutions in chemistry and biology. The units of molarity, mol/L, are usually represented by a scripted capital “M”.

Percent composition is the ratio parts of solute to one hundred parts of solution and is expressed as a percent. Determine the mass of solute and solution and then divide the mass of the solute by the total mass of the solution. This number is then multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percent. In dilute water solutions, we can assume that 1 mL of water-based solution has a mass of 1 gram, so 1 liter of solution has a mass of 1000 grams.

1. What is the molarity (moles per liter) of a solution in which 80 grams of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is dissolved in 1 liter of solution?

Answer: M


2. Calculate the molarity of a solution of potassium fluoride, KF, in which 58 grams of the compound are dissolved in 4 liters of solution.

Answer: M


3. What is the molarity of a solution in which 51 grams of aluminum oxide, Al2O3, is dissolved in 500 mL of solution?

Answer: M


4. A solution with a volume of 0.25 liters contains 10 grams of hydrogen fluoride, HF. What is the molarity of the solution?

Answer: M


5. What is the percent composition of a solution in which 80 grams of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is dissolved in 1 liter of solution?

Answer: %


6. A solution of sugar contains 35 grams of sucrose, C12H22O11 in 100 mL of solution. What is the percent composition of the solution?

Answer: %


7. What is the percent composition of a solution in which 50 grams of aluminum oxide, Al2O3, is dissolved in 500 mL of solution?

Answer: %


8. What is the percent composition of a solution in which 480 grams of sodium chloride, NaCl, is dissolved in 4 liters of solution.

Answer: %