13.2: Units Of Concentration - Chemistry LibreTexts

menu search Searchbuild_circle Toolbarfact_check Homeworkcancel Exit Reader Mode

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects

• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons

Search

Search this book Submit Search

x

Text Color

Reset BrightBluesGrayInverted

Text Size

Reset +-

Margin Size

Reset +-

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font

• Downloads expand_more
  • Download Page (PDF)
  • Download Full Book (PDF)
• Resources expand_more
  • Periodic Table
  • Physics Constants
  • Scientific Calculator
• Reference expand_more
  • Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Help expand_more
  • Get Help
  • Feedback
  • Readability

x

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

chrome_reader_mode Enter Reader Mode 13: SolutionsText{ }{ "13.00:_Prelude" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "13.01:__Units_of_Concentration" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "13.02:__Solvation_Processes" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "13.03:__Pressure_and_Temperature_Effects_on_Solubility" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "13.04:__Colligative_Properties" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "13.05:_Colloidal_Mixtures" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()" }{ "00:_Front_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "01:General_Information" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "10:_Review" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "11:_Intermolecular_Forces_and_Liquids" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "12:_Solids" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "13:_Solutions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "14:_Rates_of_Chemical_Reactions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "15:_Equilibria" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "16:_Acids_and_Bases" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "17:_Aqueous_Equilibria" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "18:_Entropy_and_Free_Energy" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "19:_Electron_Transfer_Reactions" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "20:_Coordination_Chemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "21:_Nuclear_Chemistry" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "Appendix_1:_Google_Sheets" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()", "zz:_Back_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass230_0.<PageSubPageProperty>b__1]()" }Fri, 09 Sep 2022 02:39:52 GMT13.2: Units of Concentration4403844038Robert E. Belford{ }AnonymousAnonymous User2falsefalse[ "article:topic", "concentration", "authorname:belfordr", "hypothesis:yes", "showtoc:yes", "license:ccbyncsa", "licenseversion:40" ][ "article:topic", "concentration", "authorname:belfordr", "hypothesis:yes", "showtoc:yes", "license:ccbyncsa", "licenseversion:40" ]https://chem.libretexts.org/@app/auth/3/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fchem.libretexts.org%2FCourses%2FUniversity_of_Arkansas_Little_Rock%2FChem_1403%253A_General_Chemistry_2%2FText%2F13%253A_Solutions%2F13.01%253A__Units_of_Concentration

• Sign in
• Forgot password

Search Search

• Home
• Campus Bookshelves
• University of Arkansas Little Rock
• Chem 1403: General Chemistry 2
• Text
• 13: Solutions

13.2: Units of Concentration Last updated:

Page ID44038

• 
• Robert Belford
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)

\( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)

\( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)

\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\) Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Units of Concentration
   1. Molarity M:
   2. Molality m:
   3. Mole Fraction
   4. Mass Percent
3. Mass Ratio
   1. Grams Solute per 100 g H2O (S)
   2. Parts-per notation
      1. Parts per million
      2. Parts per billion
4. Test Yourself
   1. Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)
   2. Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)
   3. Exercise \(\PageIndex{6}\)
5. Contributors and Attributions

Introduction

What does concentration mean?

In the sciences, there are basically two different meanings for concentration; first, how close things are to each other, and second, the composition of substances within a mixture. In General Chemistry 1 we used concepts like density and molarity to describe the first concept, and mass percent and mole fraction to describe the second.

• How dense (packed) things are
  • Density (\(d=\frac{mass}{volume}\))
  • Molarity (\(M=\frac{moles}{volume}\)), Note, the above can be used to describe a pure substance or a mixture. Molarity was very useful for identifying the number of solute particles in a solution as you could only measure the total solution (either its mass or volume), but could not directly measure its components.
• Relative composition of a mixture
  • Mass Percent \(\left (Mass \; \%_{A}=100(\frac{Mass_{A}}{Mass_{Total}}) \right )\)
  • Mole Fraction \(\left (X_{A}=(\frac{moles_{A}}{moles_{Total}}) \right )\) Note, the above can be used to describe the relative composition of homogenous mixtures (solutions), but don't really tell you about how close things are to each other. For example, we used the concept of mole fraction to describe the partial pressure of a gas, where the partial pressure was the mole fraction times the total pressure, but that told you nothing about how close the molecules were to each other It should also be noted that "percent" is simply the "fraction times 100", and so they are two different ways of stating the same relationship, and that it is a matter of convention to use percent for mass and fraction for the number of molecules, but you could also have "mass fraction" and "mole percent".

Note

When it comes to units of measurement, there are also two fundamentally different ways of mathematically describing the concentrations of things

• One Part to the Whole
  • This is the only kind we have dealt with, and describes things like molarity (mole of a compound to the total volume) and fractions (mole or mass of one compound to the total moles or mass of all compounds)
• One Part to Another Part
  • We will introduce several new measurements, which fit this, like molality (moles of solute to kg solvent), and g solute/100 g solvent. Each of these is representing one entity (the solute) to another entity (the solvent), which is different than relating to the whole (which is the solute and solvent).

Units of Concentration

Molarity M:

\[ \text{molarity (M)} =\dfrac{\text{moles solute}}{\text{liter solution}}\]

Molarity is useful because by measuring the volume of a solution you can determine the number of solute particles (n=MV, where n=moles solute). Since many reactions occur in solution phases and solutes are often reactants, we used molarity in stoichiometric calculations. We will also learn in the next chapter that the rate of reactions is also dependent on their concentration, and molarity can express that.

NOTE: This is a Part-to-Whole type of calculation, that is, a measurement of the volume (the whole: as the solution is the solvent plus all solutes allows you to determine the moles of a substance (the part). n = MV, where n=moles, M=Molarity and V=Volume. So for example, when making solutions of a specific molarity, you dilute the solute to a desired volume.

Molality m:

\[ \text{molality (m)} =\dfrac{\text{moles solute}}{\text{kilogram solvent}}\]

Molality is the ratio of moles of solute to the mass of solute in Kg. This is often used in calculating how a solute affects a physical property of a solvent, like the boiling or melting point of a solvent. For example, we could determine how much salt is required to lower the freezing point of a specific amount of water by 1 degree.

NOTE: This is a Part-to-Part type calculation, that is, moles solute per kilogram solvent (not solution). So for example, when making solutions of a desired molality, you add solute to a specific amount (mass) of solvent (you do not dilute to volume).

Mole Fraction

We used mole fractions in gen chem 1 to describe gas mixtures (sec 10.4.4), where the partial pressure of a gas was its mole fraction time the total pressure. \[P_A=X_AP_T\]

\[Mole \: Fraction_{A}=\left ( \frac{mole_{A}}{moles_{total}} \right )\] \[\sum_{n=1}^{all}X_{n}=1\]

Mole fraction of substance A is often denoted by XA and the sum of the mole fractions = 1. Although you can have a mass fraction, chemists usually use this for mole fractions.

NOTE: This is a Part-to-Whole type calculation, that is mole of a species divided by the total moles of all species, this is dimensionless.

Mass Percent

\[Mass\%_{A}=\left ( \frac{mass_{A}}{mass_{total}} \right )100\] \[\sum_{n=1}^{all}Mass\%_n=100\]

Percentage is related to fraction, it is simply the fraction times 100. Chemists usually use percentage to describe mass fractions. Note, the sum of the mass percents of all substances within a sample = 100%.

Note: This is a Part-to-Whole type calculation, That is, this is 100 times the mass fraction.

Mass Ratio

The ratio of two substances is the amount of one compared to the amount of another. If one of these is the solvent, then the ratio of solute to solvent becomes an indicator of how concentrated the solute is in the solvent. This is not normally used, but may help you understand grams solute per 100 g water (see below).

Note: This is a Part-to-Part type calculation: So mass ratio of a solute in a solvent would be mass solute divided by mass solvent (not solution, as in mass fraction)

Grams Solute per 100 g H2O (S)

This is often given the symbol (S) and used in graphing properties of solvents, like how a solute concentration effects the boiling point (temperature) of water. It tells you how concentrated a solute is in terms of g solute per 100 g water. This is simply the ratio times 100, and has units g solute/100 g solvent. Note: a rule-of-thumb, is a soluble substance has a solubility greater than 0.1g/100 g solvent, and an insoluble substance is less, but of course, that is all relevant.

\[S=100(mass\; ratio)=\frac{mass\; solute}{mass\; solvent}(100)\]

If you dissolve Xg solute into Yg solvent, S = (X/Y)100g

Note: This is a Part-to-Part type calculation. Simply speaking it is the mass ration times 100.

Parts-per notation

These are often called "pseudo-units" and are dimensionless quantities used to describe very dilute solute concentrations. The meaning can be ambiguous, but they are often used in engineering. In this section we will look at aqueous systems.

Parts per million

Often expressed as g solute/106g solvent or "medium", where the medium is a sample like dirt or body mass. Note, mass is not a measure of the parts like a number of entities, but this is the convention)

\[ppm=\frac{g\; solute}{10^{6}g\; solvent}=\frac{g\; solute}{10^{6}g\; medium}\] for aqueous solutions we note that the density of water is 1g/ml, so the above equation can be converted to \[ppm=\frac{mg_{solute}}{L_{ water}}\]

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Show how to convert g solute/106g solvent = mg solute/L water (when the solvent is water)

Answer

\(\displaystyle ppm=\left (\frac{g \; solute}{10 ^6 \; g \;H_2 O} \right )\left ( \frac{10^3 \;g \; H_2 O}{L} \right )\left ( \frac{10^3mg \; solute}{g} \right )=\frac{mg \; solute}{L \; H_2 O}\)

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Calculate the concentration of selenium in ppm if 5.4 grams are found in 250 kg of water?

Answer

note 1 kg is 103g so 250 kg is 2.5x105 g.

\(\left (\frac{5.4\, g \; solute}{2.5 x10 ^5 \; g \;H_2 O} \right )\left ( \frac{10^3 \;g \; H_2 O}{L} \right )\left ( \frac{10^3mg \; solute}{g} \right )=\frac{22\, mg \; solute}{L \; H_2 O}=22 \,ppm\)

Parts per billion

Often expressed as g solute/109g solvent (note, mass is not a unit of quantity, but this is the convention)

\[ppb=\frac{g\; solute}{10^{9}g\; solvent}\] for aqueous solutions we note that the density of water is 1g/ml, so the above equation can be converted to \[ppb=\frac{\mu g_{solute}}{L_{ water}}\]

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

Show how to convert g solute/109g solvent = \(\mu\)g solute/L water (when the solvent is water)

Answer

\(\displaystyle ppb=\left (\frac{g \; solute}{10 ^9 \; g \;H_2 O} \right )\left ( \frac{10^3 \;g \; H_2 O}{L} \right )\left ( \frac{10^6 \mu g \; solute}{g} \right )=\frac{\mu g \; solute}{L \; H_2 O}\)

Worksheet

Concentration worksheet

Concentration worksheet key

Note:

If you open a PDF in browser, you can comment on it. Be sure to tag it c1403c13 and to post it to the hypothes.is group UALRChem1403. Contact your instructor if you are not in the group. You can also print the worksheet if that is easier to work from.

Test Yourself

homework

The following problem have Video Solutions in the Answers

Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

Concentrated aqueous ammonia is 28% by mass NH3 and has a density of 0.90g/ml. What is the mole fraction ammonia in concentrated ammonia? Note: Answer contains a video.

Answer

XAmmonia = 0.29 , note how this is close to the mass %, which is because ammonia and water have similar molar masses.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)

Concentrated aqueous ammonia is 28% by mass NH3 and has a density of 0.90g/ml. What is the molarity of ammonia in concentrated ammonia? Note: Answer contains a video.

Answer

MAmmonia = 15M.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{6}\)

Concentrated aqueous ammonia is 28% by mass NH3 and has a density of 0.90g/ml. What is the molality of ammonia in concentrated ammonia? Note: Answer contains a video.

Answer

mAmmonia = 23 (mol NH3/kg H2O)

Contributors and Attributions

• Robert E. Belford (University of Arkansas Little Rock; Department of Chemistry). The breadth, depth and veracity of this work is the responsibility of Robert E. Belford, [email protected]. You should contact him if you have any concerns. This material has both original contributions, and content built upon prior contributions of the LibreTexts Community and other resources, including but not limited to:

This page titled 13.2: Units of Concentration is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Robert Belford.

1. Back to top
2. • 13.1: Prelude
   • 13.3: Solvation Processes

1. © Copyright 2026 Chemistry LibreTexts
2. Powered by CXone Expert ®

The LibreTexts libraries are Powered by NICE CXone Expert and are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Privacy Policy. Terms & Conditions. Accessibility Statement. For more information contact us at [email protected].