Preparation of solutions of various strengths

Introduction:
Solution is the homogeneous mixture of two or more components or chemical. Solution can be
made by dissolving solute in a solvent. Solute is the chemical which present in small amount and
soluble in solvent, which is present in large amount. Solutions with accurately known
concentration can be referred as standard solutions. In laboratory experiments solution of
different strength or concentration (which is the amount of solute dissolve in a specific amount of
solution) is used depend of the protocol requirements. The most common units of concentrations
use in Environmental Science labs are Molarity, percentage and ppm.

Molarity:
Molarity can be defined as numbers of moles of solute dissolved in liters of a solution. It is donated
by M and its unit is mole per liter

Molarity = moles of solute OR Given mass of solute × 1

Liters of solution Molar mass of solute volume of solution in L

Following examples can illustrate how to prepare the solution of various Molarities:
Example 1: How to prepare 0.25M solution of KMnO4?
Solution:
Molarity = Given mass of solute × ____ 1____________
Molar mass of solute volume of solution in L

Molar mass of KMnO4 = 158g/mole

Molarity: 0.25M
0.25M = Given mass of solute × 1
158g/mole. 1L
= 39.5g
To prepare 0.25M solution of KMnO4 39.5g of solute in dissolve in 1 liter of a solution.
Similarly,
1M solution of KMnO4 =158g of solute in dissolve in 1 liter of a solution.
2M solution of KMnO4 = 316g of solute in dissolve in 1 liter of a solution.
0.5mM solution of KMnO4 = 0.079g of solute in dissolve in 1 liter of a solution.

Example 2: How to prepare 750ml of 0.5M solution of KMnO4?

Sol;
Molarity = Given mass of solute × _____1_____________
Molar mass of solute volume of solution in L

Molar mass of KMnO4 = 158g/mole

Molarity: 0.5M
Volume of solution= 750ml or 0.75L

0.5M = Given mass of solute × 1___

158g/mole. 0.75L
= 59.25g

To prepare 0.5M of KMnO4 solution in 750ml volume, 59.25g of KMnO4 is dissolved in 750ml
of water.

Example 3: Calculate the molarity of a solution prepared by dissolving 23.7 grams of

KMnO4 into enough water to make 750 mL of solution.
Sol;
Molarity = Given mass of solute × 1
Molar mass of solute volume of solution in L
Molar mass of KMnO4 = 158g/mole
Given mass of KMnO4= 23.7 grams
Volume of solution= 750mL or 0.75 L
M = 23.7g × 1
158g/mole. 0.75L
= 0.2M
The molarity of this solution is 0.20 M
Percentage solution:
Mass percent solutions are defined based on the grams of solute per 100 grams of solution.
% w/w = Grams of solute = Grams of solute × 100
100g of solution Grams of solution
Volume percent solutions are defined as milliliters of solute per 100 mL of solution.
% v/v = mL of solute = mL of solute × 100
100mL of solution mL of solution

Mass-volume percent solutions are indicated by w/v% and are defined as the grams of solute per
100 milliliters of solution.
% w/v = Grams of solute = Grams of solute × 100
100mL of solution mL of solution

Following examples can illustrate how to prepare the solution of various percentages;
Example1: How many grams of NaCl required to prepare each of the following solutions?
a) 10% (w/v) NaCl in 250 mL solution
b) 20% (w/w) NaCl in 250 g solution.
Sol; (a)
% w/v = 10%
Volume of solution = 250mL
% w/v = Grams of solute × 100
mL of solution
10% = Grams of NaCl × 100 , 10 × 250mL= grams of NaCl
250mL 100
= 25g NaCl.
So 25g of NaCl is require to dissolve in 250mL of water to prepare 10% (w/v) solution.
Sol; (b)
% w/w = 20%
Weight of solution = 250g
% w/w = Grams of solute × 100
Grams of solution

20% = Grams of solute × 100 , 20 × 250g = grams of NaCl

250g. 100
=50g of NaCl.
So 50g of NaCl is require to dissolve in 250g of water to prepare 20% (w/w) solution.
Example: 2 what is the %w/v of 30g MgSO4 dissolve in 500mL of distilled water?
Sol;
Weight of MgSO4= 30g
Volume of solution =500mL
% w/v = Grams of solute × 100
mL of solution
% w/v = 30g of MgSO4 × 100 =6%(w/v) of MgSO4
500mL of solution

Parts per million (ppt): ppm are mass ratios of grams of solute to one million of a
substance.
Part per million (ppm) w/v = mg of solute = μg of solute = ng of solute
L of solution mL of solution μL of Solution

Part per million (ppm) w/w= mg of solute = μg of solute = ng of solute

Kg of solution g of solution mg of Solution
Example: 1 How many grams of MgCl2 required to prepare 2500 ppm (w/v) MgCl 250 mL
solution.
Sol;
Volume of solution = 250ml 0.25L
Conc.(ppm) = 2500ppm
Part per million (ppm) w/v = mg of solute
L of solution
2500ppm of MgCl2 = mg of solute , 2500ppm ×0.25L = mg of solute
0.25L of solution

= 625mg or 0.625g of MgCl2

Example: 2 what is the concentration in ppm when 30grams of Na2SO4 in 750mL of
solution?
Sol;
Mass or weight of Na2SO4 = 30g or 30,000mg
Volume of solution = 750mL or 0.75L
Part per million (ppm) w/v = mg of solute
L of solution
Part per million (ppm) w/v = 30,000mg of Na2SO4
0.75 L of solution
= 40000ppm of Na2SO4.
Stock solution:
Stock standard solution is defined as a solution with high concentration of stable analyte that can
be stored at specific conditions in laboratory for long time and used as a standard reference material
for analysis of the target analyte in the daily use. Stock solutions are used to save preparation time,
conserve materials, reduce storage space, and improve the accuracy with which working lower
concentration solutions are prepared
How to make dilutions from stock solution?
Dilution is the addition of more solvent to produce a solution of reduced concentration. Most often
a diluted solution is created from a small volume of a more concentrated stock solution.
Concentrated Solution + Solvent→ Diluted Solution
Moles (or concentration) before dilution = Moles (or concentration) after dilution
C1V1=C2V2. Or. M1V1=M2V2

C1 or M1= Concentration/Molarity before dilution OR initial molarity/ concentration

C2 or M2 = Concentration/ Molarity after dilution OR final molarity/ concentration
V1 = Volume of solution before dilution OR initial volume
V2 = Volume of solution after dilution OR final volume

Following examples can illustrate how dilution can be made from stock solution:

Example: 1 How to make 25mL of 20% ethanol from 95% ethanol.

Sol; stock solution = dilution solution
C1V1=C2V2.
C1 = 95%
C2 = 20%
V2 = 25mL
V1 =?
95% × V1. = 20% × 25 mL , 20% × 25 mL = V1
95%
V1 = 5.26 mL
So 5.26 mL of stock solution is diluted up to 25 mL to make a solution of 20% ethanol.
Example:2 How you would prepare 1.0 L of a 0.10 M solution of sulfuric acid from a 3.0
M solution of sulfuric acid?
Sol; stock solution = dilution solution
M1V1=M2V2
M1 = 3M
M2 = 0.1M
V2 = 1 L or 1000 mL
V1 =?
3M × V1. = 0.1M × 1000mL , 0.1M × 1000 mL = V1
3M
V1 = 33 mL or 0.033L
So 33mL of stock solution is diluted up to 1000 mL or 1L to make a solution of 0.1M H2SO4
Example: 3 Concentrated HCl is 12.0M. What volume is needed to make 2L of 1.0 M
solution?
Sol; stock solution = dilution solution
M1V1=M2V2
M1 = 12.0M
M2 = 1M
V2 = 2 L or 2000 mL
V1 =?
12.0M × V1. = 1M × 2000mL , 1.0M × 2000 mL = V1
12.0M
V1 = 166.6 mL or 0.1667 L
So 166.7mL or 0.1667 L of stock solution is diluted up to 2000 mL or 2L to make a solution of
1M HCl.
How to make standard solution of metal like lead from its salt like
lead chloride?

To prepare stock standard solution of an analyte, first we have to find a salt starting
reagent either in liquid or solid state which contains the target analyte then make sure the
salt is fully dissociated in water or it is soluble in water

Target Analyte: Lead (Pb)

Salt: Lead Nitrate Pb(NO3)2

After find the starting reagent to prepare standard solution check the chemical formula of
the substance and find out the percentage of target analyte in water

1 molar mass of Pb(NO3)2 = 207 + 2(14+3x16) = 331

331 gm. of Pb(NO3)2 contains 207 gm. of Pb

331 mg of Pb(NO3)2 contains 207 mg of Pb

To prepare for example a standard stock solution of 100 ppm, Weigh exactly 0.1599 g
(159.9mg) of lead nitrate, dissolve in 10 ml of diluted nitric acid (HNO3) and add water
to make exactly 1,000 ml. One ml of this solution contains 0.1 mg of lead (Pb). In
preparation and storage, use glass instruments not containing soluble lead salts.

To prepare standard solutions of for example 5ppm , 10 ppm, 15 ppm, take the
required volume to be 50 ml and using the formula C1V1=C2V2 , calculate the amount of
volume to be taken out of the stock solution and dilute it with water until it makes up the
total required volume

Lead Standard Solution of 10 ppm: Measure exactly 5 ml of Lead Standard Stock

Solution, and add water to make until it makes up the total required volume. One ml of
this solution contains 2ppm (2mg) of lead (Pb). Prepare freshly standar solution freshly
before use.
Applications of UV-Spectroscopy:
UV-visible spectroscopy has proved useful in biochemical analysis, environmental studies, in
forensic science, drug kinetics, food quality, identification and quantification of chemical and
biological substances. In Environmental Science, UV-VIS spectroscopy now utilize the
measurement of light absorption to quantify bacterial concentration levels in water samples
accurately. This process is immediate, portable, and cost-effective, making in a leading choice in
analytical instrumentation for water safety analysis. It can also use for following purpose;
 This technique is effectively use to determine the organic content present in any water
 It is use for the detection of functional group, to detect the presence or absence of
chromophore in the compound. This is technique is not useful for the detection of
chromophore in complex compounds
 An unknown compound can be identified with the help of UV spectroscopy. The spectrum
of unknown compound is compared with the spectrum of a reference compound and if both
the spectrums coincide then it confirms the identification of the unknown substance.
 Purity of a substance can also be determined with the help of UV spectroscopy. The
absorption of the sample solution is compared with the absorption of the reference solution.
The intensity of the absorption can be used for the relative calculation of the purity of the
sample substance. In order to check the purity of compound we are going to work in
laboratory.

Applications of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy:

 Atomic absorption spectroscopy is very useful in Environmental Sciences for the
determination of a large number of elements, especially at trace levels. It is a widely used
technique for analysis of a wide variety of sample matrices including biota, soils, and water.
 Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a very reputable technique that is inexpensive and
delivers accurate results even in a complex matrix.
 It can be to detect the heavy metal contamination or pollutants in different environmental
samples.