ChemTeam Converting Between PPM and Molarity
ChemTeam Converting Between PPM and Molarity
ChemTeam Converting Between PPM and Molarity
Problem #5: Make a 20.0 ppm solution of HCl from a stock solution that is 0.500-molar.
Solution:
1) Let us assume we will make 1.00 L of solution. Since ppm = 1 mg solute per liter of solution:
we need 20.0 mg solute per liter of solution
2) Calculate the volume of 0.500 M solution that contains 20.0 mg HCl:
MV = g/molar mass
(0.500 mol/L) (x) = 0.020 g / 36.46 g/mol
x = 0.001097 L
We need 1.10 mL of the stock solution diluted to 1.00 L to make a 20.0 ppm solution of HCl.
3) A slightly different form of the above question was answered thusly on Yahoo Answers:
The unit "ppm" is equivalent to "mg/L."
Concentrated HCl is 12.3 moles/L or, since the molar mass of HCl is 36.5 g/L, 449 g HCl / L.
449 g/L = 449,000 mg/L. If you want 20 ppm, you need to make a 20/449,000 volume dilution, or 1/22,500.
The best way to do that is a serial dilution: first make a 1/100 dilution (1 mL conc. HCl / 100 mL) and then
dilute THAT solution by 1/225. The result: 1/100 x 1/225 = 1/22,500.
You can cut the dilution process to one step if a lower concentration of HCl is available (e.g. 0.1 M).
Problem #6: In a geographical area at sea level measuring 56 km by 24 km by 1 km, the ozone concentration is 0.145
ppm. How many moles of ozone must be removed from the atmosphere to reach a concentration of 0.080 ppm,
assuming a constant pressure of 1 atm and a constant temperature of 30 degrees Celsius.
Solution:
1) Calculate the liters (use cubic decimeters) in our volume:
(56 x 105 dm) (24 x 105 dm) (1 x 105 dm) = 1.344 x 1018 dm3
2) Calculate the ppm that must be removed:
0.145 - 0.080 = 0.065
3) Determine milligrams (then grams, then moles) of ozone to be removed from our volume:
1 ppm = 1 mg/L
Therefore:
0.065 mg/L times 1.344 x 1018 L = 8.736 x 1016 mg
The answer (for sodium ion) is 1.1 ppm (to two sig figs).
The solution for sulfate is left to the reader.
Problem #9: The maximum concentration of O2 in seawater is 2.2 x 10-4 M at 25.0 C. What is this concentration in
ppm?
Solution:
1) Convert mol/L to grams of sodium ion per 1000 g of solution:
2.2 x 10-4 mol/L times 32.0 g/mol = 0.00704 g/L
0.00704 g/L = 0.00704 g/1000 g of solution
2) Convert to ppm by multiplying numerator and denominator by 1000:
0.00704 g/1000 g of solution times 1000/1000 = 7.04 g / 1,000,000 g of solution
The answer is 7.0 ppm (to two sig figs).
Go to "What does 'ppm' mean?"
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