Laboratory Mathematics

Basic Principles and Practices

A. Solution Properties
Introduction
Solute
a substance _____________________________
Solvent
the liquid which the solute is dissolved
Biologic solutes (analytes)
__________________________________________
Biologic fluids
The liquid_____________________________________

Solute + Solvent = Solution

Solution Properties
Concentration
Colligative Properties
Osmotic Pressure
Redox potential
Conductivity
pH and Buffers

A. Concentration
Expression of Analyte concentration:
Percent solution
Molarity
Molality
Normality

Percent solution
amount of solutes per 100 total units of solution
Percent means ______________________, represented by %

Expression of Analyte concentration:

Percent solution
Three expression of percent solution
% Weight per volume (w/v)
% Volume per volume (v/v)
% Weight per weight (w/w)
1. Percent Solution
Weight/Volume

Grams of solute
% w/v = X 100
mL of solution

% w/v X mL of solution
Grams of solute =
100

Weight/Volume
What amount of NaCl is needed to make 800 ml of 0.85% solution?

2. Volume/Volume

mL of solute
% v/v = X 100
mL of solution

% w/v X mL of solution
mL of solute =
100
Prepare 500 mL 40% alcohol from stock absolute alcohol solution.

Weight/Weight

grams of solute
% w/w = X 100
grams of solution

% w/v X grams of solution

Grams of solute =
100

Weight/Weight
Make 1800 mL of a 50% weight/weight acetone alcohol solution.
Specific gravity acetone: 0.786
Specific gravity alcohol: 0.810 grams of solute
Mole =
Molarity (M) MW
Number of moles per 1 liter of solution (mol/L)
1 mole of the substance equals its gram molecular weight (GMW)

grams of solute
Molarity of a solution =
MW x volume of solution (L)

Grams of solute = molarity x MW x volume of solution (L)

 Molarity (M)
How many grams are needed to make 1 L of a 2 M solution of HCL? MW of HCl =
36.5

A Liter of solution contains 24 g of NaOH, what is the molarity? MW of NaOH =

40g

Make up 250 ml of a 4.8 M solution of HCL ?

MW of HCL = 36.5g

Normality (N)
Number of _______________________________________
An equivalent weight is equal to the molecular weight divided by its valence.
Valence is the _____________________________________________
 grams of solute
Normality of a solution =
Equivalent weight x volume(L)

Grams of solute = normality x EW x volume of solution (L)

Normality (N)
What is the normality of a 500-mL solution that contains 7 g of H2SO4. GMW of
H2SO4 = 98g ; Valence H (2) = 1x2 = 2

Normality (N)
If a solution contains 111g CaCl2 per liter, what is the normality. MW of CaCl2 =
111g ; Valence Ca = +2

Normality (N)
To make 500 mL of 3 N NaSO4 how much substance must be weighted? MW of
Na2SO4 = 142 g ; Valence = 2

Normality (N)
In making 2 liters of 0.3 N HCl from HCL (specific gravity of 1.185 and %
purity of 36.7) what volume of HCL is required? GMW of HCL = 36.5 g ; Valence =
1

Changing Molarity to Normality

N / valence = M
2 N HCL = 2/1 = 2M
2N H2SO4 = 2/2 = 1M
2N H3PO4 = 2/3 = 0.67M

grams of solute
Molality (m) =
molecular weight x Kg of solvent
Molality (m)
Amount of__________________________________
Expressed as mol/kg

Grams of solute = molality x GMW x Kg of solvent

A solution contains 15.6 g of NaCl dissolved in 500g of water . Determine the molal
concentartion. MW of Nacl = 58.5 g

Extent of saturation:
Dilute ______________________________
Concentrated large quantity of solute in a solution
Saturated __________________________________
Supersaturated greater undissolved solute particles

Saturated and Supersaturated

Colligative Properties
Vapor pressure
Freezing point
Boiling point
Osmotic pressure

Vapor pressure
Pressure at which_________________________________
Freezing point vapor pressures of solid or liquid is equal
Boiling point _________________________________
Osmotic pressure pressure that opposes osmosis when a solvent flows through a
semi-permeable membrane.

Redox potential (Oxidation-reduction potential)

Is a measure of the ability of a solution to accept ordonate electrons

Conductivity
Measure ______________________________________
Depends on the charges of the ions present
Expressed in ohm -1
Resistivity
Resistance of substance to the passage of electrical current
______________________________________

pH and Buffers
Buffers
Weak _____________________________________
Minimize changes in hydrogen ion concentration

Other Laboratory Mathematics

Milliequivalent
For expressing electrolytes
A milliequevalent is the _______________________________
mg/dL mEq/L

mg/dL x 10 x valence
mEq/L =
molecular weight

If a solution contains 350 mg/dL Na+, how many mEq/L of Na+ does it contain. MW
of Na = 23 ; Valence of Na = 1
A solution containing 12 mg/dL Ca++ contains how many mEq/L calcium? MW of
Ca = 40; Valence of Ca = 2

Millimoles
Molecular weight expressed in milligrams

mg/dL x 10
mmol/L =
molecular weight

Convert a 3 mg/dL magnesium to mmol/L. MW of Mg = 24.31

Convert 8.2 mg/dL calcium to millimoles per liter. MW of Ca = 40

Ratio
Volume of solute per volume of solvent

Volume of solute
Ratio =
Volume of solvent

Dilution
Ratio of the volume of substance to be diluted to the final volume

Volume of solute
Dilution =
Volume of solution

Calculate the dilution using 50 L of blood and 950 L of diluting fluid.

50 (blood) + 950 (diluting fluid) = 1000 L
1000/50 = 20
1:20
Calculate the dilution using 0.5 mL of urine and 8.5 mL of isotonic saline.
Calculate the dilution of 0.1 mL serum in 0.9 mL water

Serial Dilution
Multiple progressive ____________________________________ to less
concentrated solutions

A serum sample was diluted 1:10, then 1:10, then 1:2. What is the final dilution?