Solution Mixing

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Solution mixing calculations involve determining the properties of a mixture that is formed when two or more solutions are combined. These calculations are based on principles of conservation of mass and the fact that the total amount of solute (substance being dissolved) remains constant before and after mixing. Here's how to perform solution mixing calculations:

 

1. Identify Given Information:

   - Concentrations of the initial solutions (C1 and C2) in terms of mass/volume (e.g., g/L) or moles/volume (e.g., mol/L or M).

   - Volumes of the initial solutions (V1 and V2) that are being mixed.

 

2. Calculate Total Volume:

   - Determine the total volume of the mixture (V_total) by adding the volumes of the initial solutions: V_total = V1 + V2.

 

3. Calculate Total Amount of Solute:

   - Calculate the total amount of solute in the mixture before mixing (n_total_initial) based on the concentrations and volumes of the initial solutions:

     - n_total_initial = C1 * V1 + C2 * V2

 

4. Calculate New Concentration:

   - Calculate the concentration of the mixed solution (C_final) using the total amount of solute and the total volume of the mixture:

     - C_final = n_total_initial / V_total

 

5. Optional: Dilution or Concentration:

   - Compare the final concentration (C_final) with the initial concentrations (C1 and C2) to determine whether the resulting mixture is a dilution (C_final < C1 or C_final < C2) or a concentration (C_final > C1 or C_final > C2) of the initial solutions.

 

Here's a numerical example to illustrate the process:

 

Example: You have 200 mL of a 2.0 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution and 300 mL of a 1.0 M sodium chloride solution. What is the concentration of the resulting solution after mixing?

 

1. Given Information:

   - C1 (concentration of the first solution) = 2.0 M

   - V1 (volume of the first solution) = 200 mL

   - C2 (concentration of the second solution) = 1.0 M

   - V2 (volume of the second solution) = 300 mL

 

2. Calculate Total Volume:

   - V_total = V1 + V2 = 200 mL + 300 mL = 500 mL = 0.5 L

 

3. Calculate Total Amount of Solute:

   - n_total_initial = C1 * V1 + C2 * V2

   - n_total_initial = (2.0 M) * (0.2 L) + (1.0 M) * (0.3 L) = 0.4 moles + 0.3 moles = 0.7 moles

 

4. Calculate New Concentration:

   - C_final = n_total_initial / V_total

   - C_final = 0.7 moles / 0.5 L = 1.4 M

 

In this example, after mixing the two solutions, the resulting solution has a concentration of 1.4 M.

 

Solution mixing calculations are essential in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and environmental science, where mixing of solutions is a common practice for experimentation and process development.

Chemical Engineering Calculator - Solution Mixing

Volume of Solution A (mL):
Concentration of Solution A (%):
Volume of Solution B (mL):
Concentration of Solution B (%):

Result:

Total Volume: mL

Concentration: %