Key Concepts

 Parts Per Million (ppm) is a measurement of the concentration

of a soluton.
 For very dilute solutions, weight/weight
(w/w) and weight/volume (w/v) concentrations are sometimes
expressed in parts per million.
 parts per million is abbreviated as ppm
 1 ppm is one part by weight, or volume, of solute in 1 million
parts by weight, or volume, of solution.
 In weight/volume (w/v) terms,

1 ppm = 1g m-3 = 1 mg L-1 = 1 μg mL-1

 In weight/weight (w/w) terms,

1 ppm = 1 mg kg-1 = 1 μg g-1

Converting weight/volume (w/v) concentrations to ppm

ppm = 1 g m-3 = 1 mg L-1 = 1 μg mL-1

Question 1. A solution has a concentration of 1.25 g L-1.

What is its concentration in ppm?

1. Convert the mass in grams to a mass in milligrams:

1.25 g = 1.25 × 1000 mg = 1250 mg

2. Re-write the concentration in mg L-1

concentration in mg L-1 = 1250 mg L-1 = 1250 ppm

Question 2. A solution has a concentration of 0.5 mg mL-1.

What is its concentration in ppm?

1. Convert the volume in millilitres to litres:

volume = 1 mL = 1 mL ÷ 1000 mL L-1 = 0.001 L

2. Re-write the concentration in mg L-1

 concentration in mg L-1 = 0.5 mg ÷ 0.001 L = 500 mg L-
1
= 500 ppm

Converting weight/weight (w/w) concentrations to ppm

1 ppm = 1 mg kg-1 = 1 μg g-1

Question 1. A solution has a concentration of 0.033 g kg-1.

What is its concentration in ppm?

1. Convert the mass in grams to mass in milligrams:

0.033 g = 0.033 g × 1000 mg g-1 = 33 mg

2. Re-write the concentration in mg kg-1

concentration in mg kg-1 = 33 mg kg-1 = 33 ppm

Question 2. A solution has a concentration of 2250 μg kg-1.

What is its concentration in ppm?

1. Convert the mass in micrograms to mass in milligrams:

2250 μg = 2250 μg ÷ 1000 μg mg-1 = 2.25 mg

2. Re-write the concentration in mg kg-1

concentration in mg kg-1 = 2.25 mg kg-1 = 2.25 ppm

Parts Per Million (ppm) Concentration Calculations

Question 1. 150 mL of an aqueous sodium chloride solution contains

0.0045 g NaCl.
Calculate the concentration of NaCl in parts per million (ppm).

1. Write an equation representing the ppm concentration:

ppm = mass solute (mg) ÷ volume solution (L)

2. Extract the data from the question:

 mass solute (NaCl) = 0.0045 g
volume of solution = 150 mL

3. Convert the mass in grams to a mass in milligrams:

mass NaCl = 0.0045 g = 0.0045 g × 1000 mg/g = 4.5 mg

4. Convert the volume in millilitres to a volume in litres

volume solution = 150 mL = 150 mL ÷ 1000 mL/L =

0.150 L

5. Calculate the ppm concentration of the NaCl solution:

concentration of NaCl = 4.5 mg ÷ 0.150 L = 30 mg L-1 =

30 ppm

Question 2. What mass in milligrams of potassium nitrate is present

in 0.25 kg of a 500 ppm aqueous solution of KNO3?

1. Write an equation representing the ppm concentration:

ppm = mass solute (mg) ÷ mass solution (kg)

2. Re-arrange this equation to find the mass of solute:

mass solute (mg) = ppm × mass solution (kg)

3. Extract the data from the question:

concentration = 500 ppm = 500 mg/kg

mass of solute (KNO3) = 0.25 kg

4. Substitute in the values and solve:

mass KNO3 = 500 mg/kg × 0.25 kg = 125 mg

Question 3. A student is provided with 500 mL of 600 ppm solution

of sucrose.
What volume of this solution in millilitres contains 0.15 g of sucrose?
 1. Write an equation representing the ppm concentration:

ppm = mass solute (mg) ÷ volume solution (L)

2. Re-arrange this equation to find volume of solution:

volume solution (L) = mass solute (mg) ÷ ppm

3. Extract the data from the question:

mass solute (sucrose) required = 0.15 g

ppm concentration of solution = 600 ppm = 600 mg L-1
(the total volume of solution provided, that is 500 mL, is
not relevant to the question)

4. Convert the mass in grams to a mass in milligrams:

mass solute (sucrose) = 0.15 g × 1000 mg/g = 150 mg

5. Substitute in the values and solve:

volume solution (L) required = 150 mg ÷ 600 mg L-1 =

0.25 L

6. Convert the volume in litres to a volume in millilitres:

volume solution required = 0.25 L × 1000 mL/L = 250 mL

PPM = PARTS PER MILLION

PPM is a term used in chemistry to denote a very, very low

concentration of a solution. One gram in 1000 ml is 1000 ppm and
one thousandth of a gram (0.001g) in 1000 ml is one ppm.

One thousanth of a gram is one milligram and 1000 ml is one liter, so

that 1 ppm = 1 mg per liter = mg/Liter.
PPM is derived from the fact that the density of water is taken as
1kg/L = 1,000,000 mg/L, and 1mg/L is 1mg/1,000,000mg or one part
in one million.
OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING UNITS

1 ppm = 1mg/l = 1ug /ml = 1000ug/L

ppm = ug/g =ug/ml = ng/mg = pg/ug = 10 -6
ppm = mg/litres of water

1 gram pure element disolved in 1000ml = 1000 ppm

PPB = Parts per billion = ug/L = ng/g = ng/ml = pg/mg = 10 -9

MAKING UP 1000 PPM SOLUTIONS

1. From the pure metal : weigh out accurately 1.000g of metal,

dissolve in 1 : 1 conc. nitric or hydrochloric acid, and make up to the
mark in 1 liter volume deionised water.

2. From a salt of the metal :

e.g. Make a 1000 ppm standard of Na using the salt NaCl.

FW of salt = 58.44g.
At. wt. of Na = 23
1g Na in relation to FW of salt = 58.44 / 23 = 2.542g.
Hence, weigh out 2.542g NaCl and dissolve in 1 liter volume to make
a 1000 ppm Na standard.

3. From an acidic radical of the salt :

e.g. Make a 1000 ppm phosphate standard using the salt KH2PO4

FW of salt = 136.09
FW of radical PO4 = 95
1g PO4 in relation to FW of salt = 136.09 / 95 = 1.432g.
Hence, weigh out 1.432g KH2PO4 and dissolve in 1 liter volume to
make a 1000 ppm PO4 standard.
Click this link for Atomic absorption standards

DILUTION FORMULA : C1V1 = C2V2

This equation applies to all dilution problems.

C1 (initial conc) x V1 (initial volume) = C2 (final conc) x V2 (final

volume)

Example : What volume of 6.00 ppm solution must be used to give

4.00 liters of a 0.100 ppm solution?

C1 = 6.00 ppm
V1 = unknown
C2 = 0.100 ppm
V2 = 4 liters = 4000 mls

V1 = (C2 x V2) / C1

= (0.100 X 4000) / 6.00

= 400 / 6.00 = 66.7 mls.

This means that 66.7 mls of the 6.00ppm solution diluted to a final
volume of 4 liters will give a concentration of 0.100 ppm.

The Formula below can be used to calculate the the V1 component

only.

req is the value you want.

req ppm x req vol
-------------------------- = no of mls for req vol
stock

Example : Make up 50 mls vol of 25 ppm from 100 ppm standard.

25 x 50 / 100 = 12.5 mls. i.e. 12.5 mls of 100 ppm in 50 ml volume

will give a 25 ppm solution

SERIAL DILUTIONS

Making up 10-1 M to 10-5 M solutions from a 1M stock solution.

Pipette 10 ml of the 1M stock into a 100 ml volumetric flask and

make up to the mark to give a 10-1 M soln.
Now, pipette 10 ml of this 10-1 M soln. into another 100 ml flask and
make up to the mark to give a 10-2 M soln.
Pipette again, 10 ml of this 10-2 M soln. into yet another 100 ml flask
and make up to mark to give a 10-3 M soln.
Pipette a 10 ml of this 10-3 M soln. into another 100 ml flask and
make up to mark to give a 10-4 M soln.
And from this 10-4 M soln. pipette 10 ml into a 100 ml flask and make
up to mark to give a final 10-5 M solution.
MOLARITY TO PPM

Convert molar concentration to grams per liter (Molarity x Atomic

mass of solute), then convert to milligrams per liter (ppm) by
multiplying by 1000.

e.g. What is the ppm concentration of calcium ion in 0.01M CaCO3?

Molarity(M) x Atomic mass(At Wt) = grams per liter(g/l)

Atomic Mass (Wt.) of Ca = 40

0.01M x 40 =0.40 g/l

0.40g/l x 1000 = 400 mg/l = 400ppm

Note:
The FW of an ion species is equal to its concentration in ppm at 10-
3
M. Fluoride has a FW of 19, hence a 10-3M concentration is equal to
19ppm, 1M is equal to 19,000 ppm and 1ppm is equal to 5.2 x 10-5M.

PPM TO MOLARITY

Convert ppm to gram based or milligram based concentration.

ppm = 1 mg solute per liter solution or

ppm = 0.001 gram per liter solution
e.g. What is the Molarity of 400ppm Ca ions in an aqueous CaCO3
solution?

Using the 0.001g/l concentration: 400ppm x 0.001g/l = 0.4g/l.

or, Divide 400 mg by 1000 to get g/l = 0.4 g/l
Now divide by the At. Mass of Ca to get Molarity.
0.4g/l divided by 40g/mol =0.01M

Using the mg/l concentration, the 40g Ca must be converted to

milligrams by multiplying by 1000 to give 40,000mg.
Hence Molarity = 400ppm divided by 40,000mg/mol = 0.01M

PPM (PARTS PER MILLION) TO % (PARTS PER HUNDRED)

Divide the ppm amount by 1,000,000 and multiply by 100 to get %.

e.g. :

1 ppm = 1/1,000,000 = 0.000001 = 0.0001%

10 ppm = 10/1,000,000 = 0.00001 = 0.001%
100 ppm = 100/1,000,000 = 0.0001 = 0.01%
200 ppn = 200/1,000,000 = 0.0002 = 0.02%
5000 ppm = 5000/1,000,000 = 0.005 = 0.5%
10,000 ppm = 10000/1,000,000 = 0.01 = 1.0%
20,000 ppm = 20000/1,000,000 = 0.02 = 2.0%

(PARTS PER HUNDRED) % TO PPM

Divide the % value by 100 and multiply by 1,000,000 to get ppm. e.g.
:

1% =0.01 x 1,000,000 = 10,000 ppm

0.5% =0.0.005 x 1,000,000 = 5,000 ppm
0.1% =0.001 x 1,000,000 = 1,000 ppm
0.01% = 0.0001 x 1,000,000 = 100 ppm

g/m3 = 1 mg/L =1 ppm

1 g/cm3 = 1,000,000 g/m3
0.77g/cm3 = 770,000 g/m3
770,000 g/m3 = 770,000 ppm
To prepare 1ppm of hexadecane in 1000 ml of water,
M1V1 = M2V2
(770000 ppm)V1 = (1ppm) 1000ml
V1 = 0.0013ml or 1.3 µl
If u don’t have the micro-pipette, u can prepare 1000ppm of
hexadecane first then can dilute to 100, 10 and finally 1 ppm.

g/m3 = 1 mg/L =1 ppm

1 g/cm3 = 1,000,000 g/m3
0.77g/cm3 = 770,000 g/m3
770,000 g/m3 = 770,000 ppm
To prepare 1ppm of hexadecane in 1000 ml of water,
M1V1 = M2V2
(770000 ppm)V1 = (1ppm) 1000ml
V1 = 0.0013ml or 1.3 µl
If u don’t have the micro-pipette, u can prepare 1000ppm of
hexadecane first then can dilute to 100, 10 and finally 1 ppm.

1ppm = 1mg per L

1) Prepare 10,000 ppm Stock Solution
= 10,000mg per liter = 10g per liter = 1g per 100mL
e.g. weigh 1 gram of solute and add solvent up to the 100mL mark in
a volumetric flask
As hexadecane is volatile, it might be better to weigh 1g as you might
have considerable loses due to evaporation.
2) Perform 1 to 100 serial dilution (e.g. 1mL to 100mL)
e.g. 10,000 ppm to 100 ppm, then 100 ppm to 1ppm

1 mg/Liter = 1 ppm
But You can prepared stock solution 1gram/1 Liter=1000 ppm.
From this you can prepare desirable concentration using
V1N1=V2N2.
V1= Desired Volume
N1= Desired Concentration
V2= ?
N1= Stock Concentration
Hence, use V2= V1N1/N2
Hope you understand
Cyanide

Properties

Chemical K4[Fe(CN)6]
formula

Molar mass 368.35 g/mol

(anhydrous)
422.388 g/mol
(trihydrate)

Density 1.85 g/cm3 (trihydrate)

To prepare standard cyanide solution K4[Fe(CN)6]

Standard cyanide = formula weight of K4[Fe(CN)6] /weight of CN
=368/26= 14.15
Weigh 14.15 grams of K4[Fe(CN)6]and dissolve in one litre
volume to get 1000ppm CN standard.
To prepare standard cyanide solution NaCN
Cyanide Standard, 1000 ppm. To prepare this solution from your own
laboratory stock, add 10 ml of ISA (ionic strength adjuster) and about
500 ml of distilled water to a one litre volumetric flask. Add 1.88
grams of dry, reagent-grade NaCN and swirl the flask gently to
dissolve the solid. Dilute to the mark with distilled water, cap, and
upend the flask several times to thoroughly mix the contents. Store all
standards in plastic bottles and prepare weekly.
Standard cyanide = formula weight of NaCN/weight of CN
= 49/26= 1.88

Ethanol ppm

First you need to know if this concentration is (a) w/w ppm, or

(b) - frequently the case for two liquids - a v/v ppm. 1000 ppm
equals 0.1%. This means that diluting 1.0 mL of EtOH with
DMF to the volume of 1.000 L should do the trick, unless your
case requires conditions (a) or any differently defined
concentration, which would be unusual.
Transfer 3.02 mL of Ethanol into 50 mL volumetric flask, make
up to the mark with DMF.
Further dilute 1 mL of the above solution to 50 mL with DMF.
This resulting solution is about 1000 ppm.
As Jacek said, it depends on if the ppm concentration is volume
or mass. The first case (volume), 1 mL of ethanol and 999 mL
of DMF.
In the second case (mass ppm), you have to know the density
of ethanol (0.789 g/mL) and DMF (dimethylformamide, 0.944
g/mL).