Concentration

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Concentration refers to the measure of how much of a given substance (solute) there is mixed with another substance (solvent). It can be expressed in terms of mass per volume, moles per volume, mass per mass, and other similar ways of expressing the amount of solute that is dissolved in the solvent.

Definition[edit | edit source]

The term concentration is used in chemistry to denote the amount of a solute that is dissolved in a certain amount of solvent. The solute is the substance that is being dissolved, while the solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolved.

Units of Concentration[edit | edit source]

There are several ways to express concentration, including:

  • Molarity - This is the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is expressed in moles per liter (M).
  • Molality - This is the number of moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. It is expressed in moles per kilogram (m).
  • Mass percent - This is the mass of the solute divided by the total mass of the solution, multiplied by 100%. It is expressed in %.
  • Volume percent - This is the volume of the solute divided by the total volume of the solution, multiplied by 100%. It is expressed in %.

Factors Affecting Concentration[edit | edit source]

The concentration of a solution can be affected by several factors, including:

  • Temperature - Increasing the temperature can increase the solubility of a solute in a solvent, thus increasing the concentration.
  • Pressure - Increasing the pressure can also increase the solubility of a solute in a solvent, particularly for gases.
  • Volume - Decreasing the volume of the solvent while keeping the amount of solute constant will increase the concentration.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Concentration is a critical concept in many fields, including chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and environmental science. It is used to calculate the amount of a substance in a solution, to determine the effectiveness of a drug, to measure the level of pollutants in the environment, and in many other applications.

Concentration Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD