LABORATORY MATHEMATICS

NORMALITY: week 2

Normality (N) is a concentration unit that is based on a unit of mass called the equivalent weight
(instead of the gram molecular weight that is used for molarity). Thus, a 1 normal (1N) solution
contains 1 equivalent weight (EQ) of solute in a total volume of 1 liter (EQ/liter). The equivalent
weight of a substance is the mass of substance that will combine with (or replace) 1 mole of
hydrogen (or hydroxyl ions). Generally, an equivalent weight of a substance or compound is the
gram molecular weight of substance divided by its valence (gmw/valence). In a monovalent
compound such as HCl or NaOH, the gmw = equivalent weight. However, compounds with
valences greater than 1 such as H2SO4 (valence +2) will have equivalent weights less than the
gmw (98/2 = 49). The solution is the diluent, usually d-H2O

Examples of valence

HCl is a one valence compound: one H+ will combine with one Cl-

NaOH is a one valence compound: one OH- will combine with one Na+

H2O is a one valence compound: one H+ and one OH-

NaCl is a one valence compound: Na+ will combine with one OH-
and Cl- will combine with one H+

H2SO4 is a two valence compound: SO4-2 will combine with 2H+

Mg+2 and Ca+2 are each two valence compounds (recall MgCl2 and Ca(OH)2)

Examples of Equivalent Weights:

The equivalent weight of a compound is the gram molecular weight divided by the valence.

HCl is a one valence compound: molecular weight = 36, equivalent weight = 36/1 = 36

H2SO4 is a two valence compound: molecular weight = 98; equivalent weight = 98/2 = 49

A 1N solution contains 1 equivalent weight of compound per 1 liter of solution

A 1N solution contains 2 equivalent weight of compound per 2 liters of solution

A 2N solution contains 2 equivalent weights of compound per 1 liter of solution

CLS 415 Clinical Chemistry Rotation II 1

Laboratory Mathematics: Normality
NORMALITY: week 2

Example: If NaCl contains 58 grams and the valence is one, then

mole

1N NaCl solution contains 1 equivalent weight of substance per 1 liter of solution

58 grams x 1 mole x 1 EQ x 1 liter = 58 grams NaCl (QS to 1 liter with d-H2O)

mole 1 equivalent liter

1N NaCl solution contains 116 grams of NaCl per 2 liters of solution

58 grams x 1 mole x 1 EQ x 2 liters = 116 grams NaCl (QS to 2 liters with d-H2O)
mole 1 equivalent liter

2N NaCl solution contains 2 equivalent weights of NaCl per liter of solution

58 grams x 1 mole x 2 EQ x 1 liter = 116 grams NaCl (QS to 1 liter with d-H2O)
mole 1 equivalent liter

2N NaCl solution contains 232 grams of NaCl per 2 liters of solution

58 grams x 1 mole x 2 EQ x 2 liters = 232 grams NaCl (QS to 2 liters with d-H2O)
mole 1 equivalent liter

CLS 415 Clinical Chemistry Rotation II 2

Laboratory Mathematics: Normality
NORMALITY: week 2

Example: If H2SO4 contains 98 grams and the valence is two, then

mole

1N H2SO4 solution contains 1 equivalent weight of H2SO4 per liter of solution

98 grams x 1 mole x 1 EQ x 1 liter = 49 grams H2SO4 (QS to 1 liter with d-H2O)

mole 2 equivalents liter

1N H2SO4 solution contains 98 grams (or 98 mls) of H2SO4 per 2 liters solution

98 grams x 1 mole x 1 EQ x 2 liters = 98 grams H2SO4 (QS to 2 liters with d-H2O)

mole 2 equivalents liter

2N H2SO4 solution contains 98 grams (or 98 mls) of H2SO4 per liter solution

98 grams x 1 mole x 2 EQ x 1 liter = 98 grams H2SO4 (QS to 1 liter with d-H2O)

mole 2 equivalents liter

2N H2SO4 solution contains 196 grams (or 196 mls) of H2SO4 per 2 liters of solution

98 grams x 1 mole x 2 EQ x 2 liters = 96 grams H2SO4 (QS to 2 liters with d-H2O)

mole 2 equivalents liter

For questions 1 and 2 below, first cover the answer, then solve the problem and check your answer

Question 1:
Explain how you would prepare 2 liters of a 1.5N solution of NaOH

Answer:
NaOH is a one valence compound; thus the gram molecular weight equals the equivalent weight
The molar weight of NaOH is 40 grams/mole

40 grams x 1 mole x 1.5 EQ x 2 liters = 120 grams NaOH

mole 1 EQ 1 liter

Therefore, place 120 grams NaOH and QS to 2 liters with d-H2O

CLS 415 Clinical Chemistry Rotation II 3

Laboratory Mathematics: Normality
NORMALITY: week 2

Question 2:
Explain how you would prepare 2 liters of a 1.5N solution of H2SO4

Answer:
1.5 N solution of H2SO4 contains 1.5 equivalent weights of H2SO4 in 1 liter total volume
The molar weight of H2SO4 is 98 grams/mole
H2SO4 has a valence of 2; therefore, 1 mole of H2SO4 contains 2 equivalent weights

98 grams x 1 mole x 1.5 EQ x 2 liters = 147 grams H2SO4 (since H2SO4 is a liquid and
mole 2 equivalents liter not a salt, measure this in
mls, not grams)

Therefore, place 147 mls of H2SO4 into a 2 liter volumetric flask, and QS to 2 liters with d-H2O

Practice Problems (Normality):

1. Complete the following chart of molecular and equivalent weights:

Compound Gram Molecular Weight Valence Equivalent Weight

AlCl3
Ba (OH)2
HNO3
H2CrO4
H2SO4
HCL
CaCl2
NaOH
H3PO4
CuSO4
NaCl
AgNO3

CLS 415 Clinical Chemistry Rotation II 4

Laboratory Mathematics: Normality
NORMALITY: week 2

2. How many grams of NaOH are needed to prepare 1 liter of a 1N solution?

How many grams of NaOH are needed to prepare 3 liters of a 6N solution?

How many grams (mls) of H2SO4 are needed to prepare 1 liter of a 1N solution?

How many grams (mls) of H2SO4 are needed to prepare 1 liter of a 6N solution?

How many grams (mls) of H2SO4 are needed to prepare 2 liter of a 6N solution?

CLS 415 Clinical Chemistry Rotation II 5

Laboratory Mathematics: Normality