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Chemical reactions · Gases and solutions

Solutions and their properties

Picture a road crew in Chicago spreading road salt on an icy street in January. Why does a handful of salt keep the water liquid below 32 °F? In chemistry, what matters is usually not how many grams there are, but how many particles (molecules or ions) there are, because particles are what react, cross a membrane, or lower the freezing point of water. That is why chemists express concentration mainly in moles per liter: molarity. We'll come back to the road salt at the end.

Molarity: concentration in moles per liter

If you dissolve $58.5\ \text{g}$ of common salt (NaCl) in water and $180\ \text{g}$ of glucose ($\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6$) in another beaker, the balance shows very different masses, yet both containers hold the same amount of substance ($1\ \text{mol}$ of NaCl formula units and $1\ \text{mol}$ of glucose molecules, or $6.022 \times 10^{23}$ formula units or molecules each, Avogadro's number; however, when dissolved, the NaCl separates into $2\ \text{mol}$ of ions): how can we express concentration so as to compare the real number of molecules or ions present per liter, and not just their mass?

Volumetric flask with one liter of solution filled to the mark and four solute particles, illustrating molarity as moles per liter. Molarity: moles of solute per liter 4 solute particles in 1 L (each particle = 1 mol) 1 L graduation mark solute particles M = 4 mol / 1 L = 4 mol/L

Mass percent, density, and molarity

Bottles of acid and saline bags are often labeled with mass percent (% m/m): grams of solute per 100 g of solution.

$$\text{mass percent} = \frac{m_{\text{solute}}}{m_{\text{solution}}} \times 100$$

To go from mass percent to molarity you need the density of the solution (in g/mL, the same as g/cm³), because molarity uses volume. The path is: volume → mass of solution → mass of solute → moles → molarity.

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In the lab, $0.5\ \text{mol}$ of sodium chloride is dissolved in water to make $2\ \text{L}$ of solution. a) Write the formula for molarity. b) Calculate the molarity of…

In the lab, $0.5\ \text{mol}$ of sodium chloride is dissolved in water to make $2\ \text{L}$ of solution.

  1. a) Write the formula for molarity.
  2. b) Calculate the molarity of the solution.
Solve
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To rehydrate an athlete, a drink is prepared by dissolving $20\ \text{g}$ of glucose in $180\ \text{g}$ of water. a) What is the total mass of the solution? b) Calculate…

To rehydrate an athlete, a drink is prepared by dissolving $20\ \text{g}$ of glucose in $180\ \text{g}$ of water.

  1. a) What is the total mass of the solution?
  2. b) Calculate its percentage by mass of glucose.
Solve
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A solution of sodium hydroxide, $\text{NaOH}$, is $0.4\ \text{M}$. Data: molar mass of $\text{NaOH}$, $40\ \text{g/mol}$. a) How many moles of $\text{NaOH}$ are in…

A solution of sodium hydroxide, $\text{NaOH}$, is $0.4\ \text{M}$. Data: molar mass of $\text{NaOH}$, $40\ \text{g/mol}$.

  1. a) How many moles of $\text{NaOH}$ are in $250\ \text{mL}$ of that solution?
  2. b) How many grams of $\text{NaOH}$ is this?
Solve

Parts per million: very small concentrations

One kilogram of water, equivalent to a million milligrams, shown as a bar; a very thin strip at the end represents 1 mg of solute, that is, 1 ppm. 1 kg of water (= 1,000,000 mg) 1 mg of solute = 1 ppm 1 ppm = 1 mg per kg of solution
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$20\ \text{g}$ of sodium hydroxide, $\text{NaOH}$, are dissolved in water to make up $500\ \text{mL}$ of solution. Given: molar mass of $\text{NaOH}$,…

$20\ \text{g}$ of sodium hydroxide, $\text{NaOH}$, are dissolved in water to make up $500\ \text{mL}$ of solution. Given: molar mass of $\text{NaOH}$, $40\ \text{g/mol}$.

  1. a) How many moles are the $20\ \text{g}$ of $\text{NaOH}$?
  2. b) Express the volume in liters and calculate the molarity of the solution.
Solve
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A patient needs to receive $0.05\ \text{mol}$ of glucose intravenously and a $0.5\ \text{M}$ glucose solution is available. Given: molar mass of glucose,…

A patient needs to receive $0.05\ \text{mol}$ of glucose intravenously and a $0.5\ \text{M}$ glucose solution is available. Given: molar mass of glucose, $180\ \text{g/mol}$.

  1. a) What volume of solution, in liters, contains that amount of glucose? Express it in milliliters as well.
  2. b) How many grams of glucose does the patient receive?
Solve

Diluting and mixing molar solutions

In the laboratory, commercial acids are supplied very concentrated (such as hydrochloric acid at $37\% \approx 12\ \text{M}$), but for practical work low concentrations such as $0.1\ \text{M}$ or $0.5\ \text{M}$ are almost always needed: what exact volume of water must you add to lower the concentration without altering the amount of solute? The concentrated solution is called the stock solution.

Dilution of 10 mL of 2 M HCl: 90 mL of water are added in a volumetric flask up to the 100 mL mark, giving 0.2 M HCl with the same number of solute particles, 0.02 mol. State 1 Concentrated HCl State 2 Dilute HCl M₁ = 2 M V₁ = 10 mL + 90 mL of water made up to 100 mL graduation mark M₂ = 0.2 M V₂ = 100 mL total volume solute particles (the same in both containers) n = M₁·V₁ = 2 M · 0.010 L = 0.02 mol = M₂·V₂
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$10\ \text{mL}$ of a hydrochloric acid solution, $\text{HCl}$, $2\ \text{M}$ are taken and water is added to make up $100\ \text{mL}$ of solution. Observe the diagram of…

$10\ \text{mL}$ of a hydrochloric acid solution, $\text{HCl}$, $2\ \text{M}$ are taken and water is added to make up $100\ \text{mL}$ of solution. Observe the diagram of the dilution.

10 mL HCl 2 M + water 100 mL M₂ = ?
  1. a) How many moles of $\text{HCl}$ did the initial $10\ \text{mL}$ contain?
  2. b) Calculate the molarity of the diluted solution.
  3. c) Verify that the relationship $M_1\times V_1=M_2\times V_2$ is satisfied and explain which quantity is conserved in a dilution.
Solve
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A laboratory has nitric acid, $\text{HNO}3$, $4\ \text{M}$ and needs to prepare $500\ \text{mL}$ of $0.8\ \text{M}$ solution. a) Apply the relationship…

A laboratory has nitric acid, $\text{HNO}_3$, $4\ \text{M}$ and needs to prepare $500\ \text{mL}$ of $0.8\ \text{M}$ solution.

  1. a) Apply the relationship $M_1\times V_1=M_2\times V_2$ to calculate the volume of concentrated acid that needs to be measured.
  2. b) Describe how to safely prepare the dilution: what apparatus is used and why the acid is added to the water and not the other way around.
Solve
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In an analytical laboratory, $100\ \text{mL}$ of $0.5\ \text{M}$ $\text{NaCl}$ solution are mixed with $300\ \text{mL}$ of $1.5\ \text{M}$ $\text{NaCl}$ solution. Assume…

In an analytical laboratory, $100\ \text{mL}$ of $0.5\ \text{M}$ $\text{NaCl}$ solution are mixed with $300\ \text{mL}$ of $1.5\ \text{M}$ $\text{NaCl}$ solution. Assume that the volumes are additive. The diagram shows the mixture.

100 mL NaCl 0.5 M + 300 mL NaCl 1.5 M 400 mL M = ?
  1. a) Calculate the moles of salt provided by each solution.
  2. b) Calculate the molarity of the resulting mixture.
  3. c) Explain why the result is not $1\ \text{M}$, the mean of the two initial concentrations.
Solve
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A pharmacy dilutes $50\ \text{g}$ of a concentrated salt solution at $20\ \%$ by mass with $150\ \text{g}$ of water to prepare mouthwashes. a) How many grams of salt are…

A pharmacy dilutes $50\ \text{g}$ of a concentrated salt solution at $20\ \%$ by mass with $150\ \text{g}$ of water to prepare mouthwashes.

  1. a) How many grams of salt are provided by the concentrated solution?
  2. b) What is the total mass of the mixture?
  3. c) Calculate the new percentage by mass.
Solve
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A glucose solution has a density of $1.08\ \text{g/mL}$ and a concentration of $5\ \%$ by mass. Given: molar mass of glucose, $180\ \text{g/mol}$. a) Calculate the mass…

A glucose solution has a density of $1.08\ \text{g/mL}$ and a concentration of $5\ \%$ by mass. Given: molar mass of glucose, $180\ \text{g/mol}$.

  1. a) Calculate the mass of $1\ \text{L}$ of solution.
  2. b) How many grams of glucose does that liter contain?
  3. c) Calculate the molarity of the solution.
Solve
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Commercial hydrochloric acid used in the lab has a concentration of $37\ \%$ by mass and a density of $1.19\ \text{g/mL}$. Given: molar mass of $\text{HCl}$,…

Commercial hydrochloric acid used in the lab has a concentration of $37\ \%$ by mass and a density of $1.19\ \text{g/mL}$. Given: molar mass of $\text{HCl}$, $36.5\ \text{g/mol}$.

  1. a) Calculate the mass of $1\ \text{L}$ of commercial acid.
  2. b) How many grams of pure $\text{HCl}$ does that liter contain?
  3. c) Calculate the molarity of the commercial acid, to one decimal place.
  4. d) Calculate, to one decimal place, what volume of this acid must be measured to prepare $500\ \text{mL}$ of $1\ \text{M}$ solution, and describe the dilution procedure safely.
Solve

Colligative properties: what matters is how many particles there are

Freezing temperature scale: pure water freezes at 0 °C, the 0.5 M salt solution freezes lower down and the 1 M salt solution freezes lower still. Freezing temperature T 0 °C pure water 0.5 M salt 1 M salt freezes at 0 °C freezes lower down freezes lower still depression

Types of solutions and dissolved gases

Water is a good solvent because its molecules are polar: the slightly negative oxygen end attracts positive ions or partial charges, and the slightly positive hydrogen ends attract negative ones, pulling a crystal apart. A solute that forms ions in water (like NaCl) is an electrolyte and the solution conducts electricity; a solute that stays as molecules (like glucose) is a nonelectrolyte and does not.

A solution is unsaturated if it can still dissolve more solute at that temperature, saturated if it holds the maximum amount, and supersaturated if it holds more than the maximum (unstable). On a solubility curve, a point below the curve is unsaturated, on the curve is saturated, and above it is supersaturated. Solids usually dissolve more at higher temperature; gases dissolve less.

Solids dissolve faster if you raise the temperature, stir (agitate), or crush them (more surface area).

This is why a warm soda goes flat faster than a cold one: dissolved $\text{CO}_2$ is a gas, and a gas is less soluble when hot. To estimate the moles of $\text{CO}_2$ released, treat it as an ideal gas: $n = \dfrac{PV}{RT}$ with $T$ in kelvin ($K = {}^\circ\text{C} + 273.15$).

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A pot contains $2\ \text{kg}$ of broth with $1\ \%$ by mass of salt. a) How many grams of salt are in the broth? b) Upon boiling, water evaporates until the broth weighs…

A pot contains $2\ \text{kg}$ of broth with $1\ \%$ by mass of salt.

  1. a) How many grams of salt are in the broth?
  2. b) Upon boiling, water evaporates until the broth weighs $500\ \text{g}$: what is the percentage by mass of salt now?
  3. c) A chef wants the broth to have $2\ \%$ salt: to what total mass must it be reduced?
  4. d) Explain why the concentration increases even though not a single gram of salt has been added: which quantity is conserved?
Solve
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Unit challenge. How much gas does a soft drink contain and how does it affect the properties of the solution? Determine the concentration of dissolved $CO_2$ and its…

Unit challenge. How much gas does a soft drink contain and how does it affect the properties of the solution? Determine the concentration of dissolved $CO_2$ and its ideal gas behavior right in your own kitchen.

  1. Local conditions: Look up the atmospheric pressure ($P \pm 1\text{ hPa}$) and ambient temperature ($T \pm 0.5\text{ }^\circ\text{C}$) in your city on the National Weather Service website.

  2. Home experimentation: Weigh a small bottle of sparkling water using a kitchen scale (sensitivity $\pm 0.1\text{ g}$). Degas it progressively by shaking it and opening it carefully over $4$ successive intervals, recording the mass of the system after each gas loss. Finally, degas it completely (shaking until the mass no longer changes) to obtain the final mass $m_f$, and note the liquid volume $V_{\text{dis}}$ shown on the label.

  3. Processing and calculation: Prepare a data table showing the mass of $CO_2$ lost and propagate its uncertainty. Using the ideal gas equation ($PV = nRT$), deduce the volume of gas released and calculate the molar concentration of the gas that remained dissolved at each stage.

  4. Final report: Plot the graph of gas volume versus mass lost (including error bars) and explain how pressure and temperature affect the solubility of the gas.

Evaluation criteria:

  • Rigorous determination of home measurements with their associated uncertainties.

  • Correct application of the ideal gas law and concentration units.

  • Analytical quality of the data table, graph, and physicochemical interpretation of the results.

Solve

Summary

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Physiological saline used in hospitals is a $0.9\ \%$ by mass sodium chloride solution. a) How many grams of salt are contained in a $500\ \text{g}$ bag of saline? b)…

Physiological saline used in hospitals is a $0.9\ \%$ by mass sodium chloride solution.

  1. a) How many grams of salt are contained in a $500\ \text{g}$ bag of saline?
  2. b) How many grams of water?
Solve
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State whether each statement is true or false and justify your answer: a) If half of a solution is transferred to another beaker, the molarity in each beaker is half of…

State whether each statement is true or false and justify your answer:

  1. a) If half of a solution is transferred to another beaker, the molarity in each beaker is half of what it was at the beginning.
  2. b) If the volume of a solution is halved by evaporating water, its molarity doubles.
  3. c) Two solutions of different solutes can have the same molarity and, at the same time, different masses of solute per liter.
Solve
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To prepare $100\ \text{mL}$ of a $0.5\ \text{M}$ sodium carbonate solution, $5.3\ \text{g}$ of solute must be weighed out. Put the following laboratory procedure steps…

To prepare $100\ \text{mL}$ of a $0.5\ \text{M}$ sodium carbonate solution, $5.3\ \text{g}$ of solute must be weighed out. Put the following laboratory procedure steps in order (they are currently mixed up) and explain what is done in each step:

  1. a) Make up to the mark on the neck of the flask with distilled water.
  2. b) Weigh the solute using the balance.
  3. c) Dissolve the solute in a beaker with a small amount of water.
  4. d) Transfer to the $100\ \text{mL}$ volumetric flask and add water almost up to the mark.

In addition, explain what "making up to the mark" means and why the volumetric flask is the appropriate piece of equipment. The figure shows the volumetric flask and, magnified, the detail of making up to the mark on the neck.

100 mL graduation mark mark meniscus
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