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Converting a 30% KOH Solution to a 6% KOH Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide
Converting a 30% KOH Solution to a 6% KOH Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you are a scientist, a chemistry student, or simply someone who needs to prepare a specific concentration of a solution, understanding how to convert a solution from one concentration to another is a valuable skill.
This article delves into the process of converting a 30% KOH (potassium hydroxide) solution with a density of 1.28 g/mL to a 6% KOH solution with a density of 1.04 g/mL. We will break down the steps involved in this conversion, providing a practical example to help understand the chemistry principles.
Understanding Solutions and Concentration
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. In the case of KOH, it is a mixture of water (the solvent) and KOH (the solute). The concentration of a solution is typically expressed as the mass of solute per unit volume of solution. For this conversion, we will use the formula:
Concentration (C) Mass of solute (m) / Volume of solution (V)
Calculation for 30% KOH Solution
Given:
The concentration of the 30% KOH solution: 30% (or 0.30 in decimal form) The density of the 30% KOH solution: 1.28 g/mL The desired concentration of the KOH solution: 6% (or 0.06 in decimal form) The final volume of the new 6% KOH solution: 10 liters (10,000 mL)We need to determine the mass of the KOH (m1) required to prepare the 10 liters of 6% KOH solution. Let's calculate this step-by-step.
Step 1: Calculate the mass of the KOH in the final solution
First, we calculate the mass of KOH needed for the final 10 liters of 6% solution:
Mass of KOH (m1) 0.06 (concentration) x 1.04 (density, in g/mL) x 10,000 (volume in mL) 624 g
This means we need 624 grams of KOH for the final 10 liters of 6% KOH solution.
Step 2: Determine the volume of the 30% KOH solution needed
Next, we need to calculate the volume of the 30% KOH solution required to obtain 624 grams of KOH. We use the formula:
V1 m1 / (C1 x D1), where V1 is the volume of the 30% KOH solution, m1 is the mass of KOH, C1 is the concentration of the 30% KOH solution, and D1 is the density of the 30% KOH solution.
Substituting the values:
V1 624 g / (0.30 x 1.28 g/mL) 1625 mL or 1.625 L
Therefore, we need 1.625 liters of the 30% KOH solution.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can accurately convert a 30% KOH solution to a 6% KOH solution. This process involves calculating the mass of KOH required for the final solution, determining the volume of the original solution needed, and then using this volume to prepare the desired concentration. This method is not only useful in chemistry but can also be applied in various other fields that require precise solution preparation.