AP CHEM NOTES

CONCENTRATIONS SAMPLE PROBLEMS

CONCENTRATION EQUATIONS:

Molarity: % solute:

Molality: parts per million:

Normality: N = nM parts per billion:

+
# H in acids
−
n= # OH in bases
− mole fraction:
# e in redox

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1) Given a 1.75 M NaOH solution having a density of 1.040 g/mL, determine the molality, % NaOH, normality and
mole fraction of NaOH.

Make an assumption for a starting point. Assume 1 L of solution.

By the assumption, and that there is 1.75 M,
1.75 mol NaOH
figure the moles of solute.
Figure the mass of solute by multiplying by its
70.0 g NaOH
molar mass.
Determine the volume of the solution—this is
1000 mL soln
from your assumption.

Using density, find the mass of the solution.

m = (1.040 g/mL)(1000 mL) = 1040. mL solution
Find the mass of water by subtracting the mass
mass H2O = 1040. g soln – 70.0 g NaOH = 970. g H2O
of the solution by the mass of NaOH.
Find the moles of H2O by dividing its mass by
53.8 mol H2O
its molar mass.

SUMMARY OF DATA:
1.75 mol NaOH = 70.0 g NaOH mass soln = 1040. g soln
53.8 mol H2O = 970. g H2O vol. soln = 1000 mL

Finding molality:

Finding % NaOH: ( ) ( )

Finding normality: N = nM = (1)(1.75 M) = 1.75 N NaOH

Finding mole fraction:

2) Concentrated sulfuric acid, H2SO4, has a molality of 189.36 m and a density of 1.84 g/mL. Find the molarity,
normality, % H2SO4 and mole fraction H2SO4.

Make an assumption for a starting point. Assume 1 kg of water.

By the assumption, and that the solution is
189.36 mol H2SO4
189.4 m, figure the moles of solute.
Figure the mass of solute by multiplying by its
18570 g H2SO4
molar mass.
From the assumption, determine the mass of
1000 g H2O
water.
From the mass, find the moles of water. 55.49 mol H2O
Find the mass of solution by adding the mass
mass soln = 18570 g solute + 1000 g solvent = 19570 g soln
of solute and solvent.

Using density, find the volume of the solution.

SUMMARY OF DATA:
189.36 mol H2SO4 = 18570 g H2SO4 mass soln = 19570 g soln
55.49 mol H2O = 1000 g H2O vol. soln = 10600 mL soln

Finding molarity:

Finding normality: N = nM = (2)(17.9 M) = 35.8 N H2SO4

Finding % H2SO4: ( ) ( )

Finding mole fraction:

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3) Given a 18.40% Mg(NO3)2 solution with a density of 1.045 g/mL, find the molarity, molality, and mole fraction of
Mg(NO3)2.

Make an assumption for a starting point. Assume 100 g solution.

By the assumption, and that the solution is
18.40 g Mg(NO3)2
18.40%, figure the mass of solute and the mass
81.60 g H2O
of solvent.
0.1240 mol Mg(NO3)2
Determine the moles of the solute and solvent.
4.528 mol H2O
From the assumption, you know the mass of
mass soln = 100 g
solution.

Using density, find the volume of the solution.

SUMMARY OF DATA:
0.1240 mol Mg(NO3)2 = 18.40 g Mg(NO3)2 mass soln = 100 g soln
4.528 mol H2O = 81.60 g H2O vol. soln = 95.69 mL soln

Finding molarity:

Finding molality:

Finding mole fraction:

4) Given a NaOH solution with XNaOH = 0.1000, find the molality and %NaOH.

Since we are not finding molarity nor normality, we don’t need to find the volume of the solution.

Make an assumption for a starting point. Assume 1 mole solution.

By the assumption, determine the moles of the 0.1000 mol NaOH
solute and solvent. 0.9000 mol H2O
4.000 g NaOH
Determine the mass of the solute and solvent.
16.22 g H2O
Determine the mass of the solution. mass soln = 4.000 g + 16.22 g = 20.22 g soln

SUMMARY OF DATA:
0.1000 mol NaOH = 4.000 g NaOH mass soln = 20.22 g
0.9000 mol H2O = 16.22 g H2O

Finding molality:

Finding % NaOH: ( ) ( )