A solution is made by dissolving 4.87 g of potassium nitrate to a final volume of 86.4 mL solution. What is the weight/volume of the solute?

1 Answer
Jun 26, 2016

We assume, (i) that the solvent is water, and (ii) that dissolution occurs without change in volume.

Explanation:

So given the standard density of water, the mass of the solution is simply, #(4.87+86.4)*g#. For the solution #"mass"/"volume"="density"(rho)# #=# #((4.87+86.4)*g)/(86.4*mL)#, slightly over #1*g*mL#. Because nitrate salts are soluble stuff, you could get significantly higher solution densities if you dissolved more salt (volume change would be fairly negligible).