CONCEPTS OF
SOLUTIONS
Definitions
- Solution:
- A physically homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
- In clinical chemistry we are concerned primarily with the
measurement of solids in liquids, when there is a relatively large
amount of solvent in comparison to the amount of solute.
- Examples of solutions in clinical: blood, serum, urine, spinal fluid
or other body fluids (we measure concentration of substances in
these solutions).
- Solute (analytes):
- The substance that is dissolved in a solution.
- Solvents:
- The substance in which the solute is dissolved.
Saturation
► Saturated solution
► When a solution holds as much of a dissolved solute as it can at a specific
temperature, it is said to be saturated.
► Unsaturated solution
► An unsaturated solution is one that contains less solute than the solvent is capable
of holding.
► Super-saturated solution
► A saturated solution is one that contains more solute than the solvent is capable of
holding.
► In a supersaturated solution (which contains more solute than it can hold when
the solution is saturated, the addition of undissolved substance, jarring or stirring
will cause precipitation of the excess solute and will produce a saturated solution.
► Factors affecting saturation
1) The temperature of the solution
2) Atmospheric pressure
3) The nature of the solute and solvent.
Solvents generally dissolve more solute at higher temperatures, and decreases
with lower temperatures
Solubility of liquids
► The ability of one compound to dissolve in another
compound is called solubility.
► Completely miscible:
When two liquids dissolve in each other in any proportion they
are completely miscible.
► Completely immiscible:
If the liquids do not dissolve at all in each other, they are
completely immiscible.
► Partially miscible:
When each of two liquids is partially soluble in the other, they
are said to be partially miscible.
EXPRESSIONS
OF CONCENTRATION
Molar solutions
Solutions that contain one-gram mole of the solute
dissolved in one liter of solvents (mostly water).
One-gram mole of any substance is the molecular weight
of that substance expressed in grams ()
(NB: The unit of molecular weight is Dalton and not
gram).
► One Molar solution of NaOH:
► 1) Molecular weight of NaOH:
► The sum of atomic weights of:
(Na + O + H atom) = (23 + 16 + 1) = 40 daltons
► 2) 40 g NaOH dissolved in 1 liter water
► 0.1 Molar solution of NaOH:
► 1) Molecular weight of NaOH
► 2) 40 g NaOH is multiplied by 0.1
► 3) 40 × 0.1 = 4 g dissolved in 1 liter to get 0.1 Molar NaOH
Normal Solution
They are solutions that contain one-gram equivalent (1 Eq) of
the solute dissolved in one liter of solvents (mostly water).
One-gram equivalent of any substance is the molecular
weight of that substance divided by the number of active
radicals
(number of H+ atoms for acids, OH- groups for bases or the
valency for elements)
► One Normal solution of H2SO4 acid:
1) Molecular weight of H2SO4 (98).
2) Equivalent weight for H2SO4:
► Its molecular weight divided by 2
► 98 ÷ 2 = 49g as H2SO4 donates 2 H atoms.
► 3) 49 g H2SO4 dissolved in 1 liter of water
► One Normal solution of H3PO4 acid
1) Molecular weight of H3PO4 (98)
2) Equivalent weight for H3PO4 :
Its molecular weight divided by 3
► 98 ÷ 3 = 32.7g as H3PO4 donates 3 H atoms. 3) 32.7 g H3PO4
dissolved in 1 liter