Professor: Grant C.

Baker

Chemical Concentrations
Calculation of Weight Percent (%), Parts Per Thousand (ppt or o/oo),
Molality (m), Molarity (M), and Normality (N)

I. Definitions:
Mole - The number 6.02 x1023 (also called Avogadro's Number). Used to refer to 6.02 x1023 of something (could
be cookies but usually is atoms or molecules). The important point to understand is that it is just a specific
number.
Solute - Generally, the substance present in the smaller amount.
Solvent - Generally, the substance present in the larger amount.
Solution - solute and solvent
Molality - moles solute/1 kg solvent
Molarity - moles solute/1 liter solution
Normality - moles of equivalents of solute/1 liter solution
Equivalent - moles of electrons transferred per mole solute
For example, for the reaction
CdCl2 ⇔ Cd +2 + 2Cl−
there are two moles of electrons transferred for every mole of solute ( CdCl2 ) that disassociates (2
equivalents). So, if you had a 1 M (Molar) solution of CdCl2 then the Normality would be 2 N CdCl2
(Normal).
wt % = weight percent (weight of solute/100 weight units of solution) or (wt. solute/wt. solution)*100
ppt or o/oo = parts per thousand (weight of solute/1000 weight units of solution) or (wt. solute/wt. solution)*1,000
ppm = parts per million (weight of solute/1,000,000 weight units of solution) or (wt. solute/wt. solution)*1,000,000
ppb = parts per billion (weight of solute/1,000,000,000 weight units of solution) or (wt. solute/wt. solution)*1,000,000,000
N
Note 1: M =
equivalents
Note 2: "ppt" is usually based on weight (and is assumed to be if not otherwise specified) but can be based on
volume if specified).
Note 3: 1 liter = 1000 cm3 = 1000 ml

II. Calculations (general)

x = weight of solute
y = weight of solvent
x + y = weight of solution
⎛ x ⎞
weight percent (solute) = ⎜ ⎟ *100
⎝x+y⎠
ppt = (weight percent) * 10
⎛ x / M.W. ⎞
molality (m)= ⎜ ⎟ *1000
⎝ y ⎠
where: M.W. = molecular weight of solute
⎛ x / M.W. ⎞
molarity (M) = ⎜ ⎟ ρsolution *1000
⎝ x+y ⎠
x+y
where: ρsolution (density of solution) =
V(x + y)
V(x + y) = volume of solution
Normality = M * equivalents

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Dr. Grant C. Baker 1 Version: 11-28-05
III. Sample Calculations (in cgs system)
Problem: Given 5 weight percent CuSO4 solution, ρsolution (5 % CuSO4 solution at 20oC) = 1.0511 g/cm3;
determine at 20oC:
a) ppt (parts per thousand)
b) m (molality)
c) M (molarity)
d) N (normality)

Answers
Molecular weight of CuSO4 = 63.546 + 32.06 + 4(16) = 159.6
Let x + y = 100 g. Then x = 5 g and y = 100 - x = 95 g
a. ppt = (weight percent) * 10 = 50 ppt CuSO4
⎛ 5 /159.6 ⎞
b. m= ⎜ ⎟ *1000 = 0.32977 m CuSO4
⎝ 95 ⎠
⎛ 5 /159.6 ⎞
c. M= ⎜ ⎟ *1.0511*1000 = 0.32929 M CuSO4
⎝ 100 ⎠
d. If reaction is as follows;
CuSO 4 ⇔ Cu 2+ + SO24−
then equivalents = 2 ( i.e. two moles of electrons transferred per mole of solute) and so,
N = 0.32929 * 2 = 0.65858 N CuSO4

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Dr. Grant C. Baker 2 Version: 11-28-05
 Professor: Grant C. Baker

Chemical Concentrations
Molarity (M), Molality (m), and Normality (N) with Complete Units Balance
Problem
Given:
a. 6 Wt.% MnBr2 solution
b. Density = 1.05g / cm3 at 20oC
c. x = weight of solute
d. y = weight of solvent
Determine:
a. Molarity (M)
b. Molality (m)
c. Normality (N)

Solution
Assume a basis of 100g of solution. Then
x + y = 100g
x = 6g solute ( MnBr2 )
y = 100g - x = 100g - 6g = 94g solvent (water)
Also note,
Molecular Weight (MW) of MnBr2 = 54.94 + 2(79.9) = 214.7 In other words, 214.7g MnBr2 = 1 mole MnBr2
For calculation of Molarity (M) we get:
⎡⎛ 6g MnBr2 ⎞⎤
⎢ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎥
a.
⎢ ⎝ 214.7g MnBr2 / mole MnBr2 ⎠ ⎥ ⎛ 1.05g solution ⎞ ⎛ 1000 cm3 solution ⎞
⎢ ⎥ * ⎜ cm3 solution ⎟ * ⎜ Liter solution ⎟ = 0.293 M MnBr2 ⇐
⎥ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
100g solution
⎢
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦
For calculation of Molality (m) we get:
⎡⎛ 6g MnBr2 ⎞⎤
⎢ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎥
b.
⎢ ⎝ 214.7g MnBr2 / mole MnBr2 ⎠ ⎥ ⎛ 1000g ⎞ ⎛ 0.297 moles MnBr2 ⎞
⎢ ⎥ * ⎜ 1 kg ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ = 0.297 m MnBr2 ⇐
⎥ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
94g solvent 1 kg solvent
⎢
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦
c. Since MnBr2 ⇔ Mn 2+ + Br 2−
Then, n=2 (number of equivalents or number of moles of electrons transferred per mole of solute). Therefore,
⎛ 2 moles electrons transferred ⎞ ⎛ 0.293 moles MnBr2 ⎞ 0.586 moles electrons transferred
N = n * M = ⎜⎜
⎝ mole MnBr2
⎟⎟ * ⎜
⎠ ⎝ Liter solution ⎠
⎟=
Liter solution
= 0.586 N MnBr2 ⇐
Version: 11-28-05