Lesson 3 – Part 1

Concentration Units

General Chemistry 2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
There are two ways of expressing
concentration:

• Qualitative Way
• Quantitative Way

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Similar to how one
can describe pizzas
in terms of slices and
fractions, the amount
of solute present in a
solution can be
described by
expressing its
concentration with
appropriate units.
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In this lesson, we will discuss the first two of the six main
concentration units, percent by volume and percent by
mass.

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Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Express the concentration of solutions in

percentage by mass, percentage by volume.

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Let’s START!
 Concentration of Solution

● The amount of solute present in a solution is

described by its concentration.

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 Concentration of Solution

● Concentration often expresses the ratio of the amount

of the solute to the amount of the solution, but
sometimes it is also expressed with respect to the
amount of the solvent.

• How much salt is inside?

• What percent is the
solute?
• How about in grams?

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 Concentration of Solution

Concentration Term Unit

Percentage by mass, % m/m

Percentage by volume, % v/v

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 Percentage by Mass, % m/m

● The mass of solute and solvent should be expressed in

the same units.

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Percent by Mass
 Percentage by Mass, % m/m

● Percentage by mass (% m/m), also known as mass

percent or weight percent (% w/w), is defined as the
mass of solute per mass of the solution.

● Mathematically, it is expressed as the mass fraction

times 100.

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Percent by Volume
 Percentage by Volume, % v/v

● Percentage by volume (% v/v), also known as volume

percent is defined as the volume of solute per volume
of the solution.

● Mathematically, it is expressed as the volume fraction

times 100.

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 Percentage by Volume, % v/v

● The volume of solute and solvent should be expressed

in the same units.

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 Percentage by Volume, % v/v

● Proof is a commonly
used unit for alcohol
concentration. It is
mathematically defined
as two times the
percentage by volume
of the alcohol in the
solution.

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 Percentage by Volume, % v/v

● Proof is a commonly used unit for alcohol

concentration. It is mathematically defined as two
times the percentage by volume of the alcohol in the
solution.
proof = 2 (% v/v)
● For example, a 90-proof whiskey has a percentage by
volume of 45 % v/v in alcohol content.
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In what instances does the unit %
m/m more appropriate to use
than % v/v?

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Remember

Whether to use percent by mass or

percent by volume depends on
what is asked or what is given.

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 Let’s Practice!

Problem No. 1
Calculate the concentration of a solution in percentage
by mass prepared by dissolving 12 g of NaCl to produce
50 g of the solution.

The concentration of the solution in percentage by mass

is 24 %.
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Let’s Practice!

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 Let’s Practice!

Problem No. 2
A sample benzoic acid solution in soda is 0.75 % by mass.
What mass of benzoic acid is present in 150 g solution.

The mass of benzoic acid is 1.13 g.

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Let’s Practice!

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Try It!

Calculate the concentration of sodium

hydroxide (NaOH), in percentage per mass,
in a solution prepared by dissolving 22 g of
NaOH with 53 g of water.

The concentration of NaOH in percent by

mass is 29.33 %.

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Let’s Practice!

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Try It!

What is the amount (in g) of hydrogen

peroxide (H2 O2 ) needed to make a 6.00 kg,
6.00 % (by mass) H2 O2 solution?

The amount in grams of H2 O2 is 360 g.

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Let’s Practice!

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 Let’s Practice!

Problem No. 2
Calculate the concentration of ethanol, in percentage per
volume, in a solution prepared by dissolving 10 mL of
ethanol with 11 mL of water.

The concentration of ethanol in the solution in percentage

by volume is 47.62 %.
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Let’s Practice!

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 Let’s Practice!

Problem No. 2
950 mL of a well-known alcoholic beverage is marked to be
55.0 proof. How many mL of ethanol is present in the
alcoholic beverage?

The alcohol content of hard liquor is given by the

proof, defined as twice the percentage volume of
present.

There is 261.25 g of ethanol.

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Let’s Practice!

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Try It!

Calculate the concentration of a solution in

percentage by volume prepared by
dissolving 10 mL of acetone to produce 100
mL of the solution.

The concentration of acetone in percent by

volume is 10 %.

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Let’s Practice!

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 Let’s Practice!
More Problems

1. What is the percent volume of a solution that contains 8.5 mL acetic acid
and 120 mL water?

2. What is the percentage by mass (% by mass) of a solution made by

dissolving 0.50 g of potassium sulfate in 12.50 g of water?

3. Tyra wants to make a 40% brine solution. If she has 180 g of water, how
much salt (in grams) does she need?

4. A liter of a well-known alcoholic beverage is marked 80 Proof. How much

alcohol (in mL) is present in that alcoholic beverage?
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Let’s Practice!

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Concentration represents the amount of solute

present in a solution. It is an intensive property as
it represents the proportion of a substance with
respect to the whole solution.
● Percentage by mass (% m/m), also known as
mass percent or weight percent (% w/w), is
defined as the mass of solute per mass of the
solution.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Percentage by volume (% v/v), also known as

volume percent is defined as the volume of
solute per volume of the solution.
● Proof is a commonly used unit for alcohol
concentration. It is mathematically defined as two
times the percentage by volume of the alcohol in
the solution.

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Percentage by
solve for percentage
Mass
by mass if the mass of
where
solute and the mass of
● % m/m is
solution are given.
percentage by mass.

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Percentage by
solve for percentage
Volume
by mass if the volume
where
of solute and the
● % v/v is percentage by
volume of solution are
volume.
given.

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Bibliography

Chang, Raymond, and Kenneth A. Goldsby. General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2014.

Handwerker, Mark J. Science Essentials. San Francisco, CA.: Jossey-Bass, 2005.

Hawe, Alan, Dan Davies, Kendra McMahon, Lee Towler, Chris Collier, and Tonie Scott. Science 5–11: A
Guide for Teachers. 2nd ed. New York, NY: David Fulton Publishers, 2009.

Petrucci, Ralph H. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications. Toronto, Ont.: Pearson
Canada, 2011.

Silberberg, Martin S. Principles of General Chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.

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