Concentration Calculations

Chemist pouring liquidThe concentration of a solution is the ratio of the amount of solute in a given amount of solvent or solution. Knowing the concentration of a solution, and being able to make the proper concentration of a solution, is very important. Doctors, pharmacists, and all medical personnel must be aware of the concentration of things from saline solutions, gas mixtures, and even certain medicines. Even though a beautiful yard is not a life and death situation, landscapers and gardeners rely on whether they have the right concentrations of weed killers and fertilizers for their customers.

Many industries have their own way to express concentrations of solutions, depending on their particular application. In this topic, you will learn about a few of the most commonly used ways to express concentrations in chemistry. These calculations will be very similar to one another.

Essential Question

  • What are some ways to express the concentration of a solution?