% w/v Formula:
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Percent weight per volume (% w/v) is a common way to express the concentration of a solution. It represents the mass of solute (in grams) per 100 mL of solution. This measurement is widely used in chemistry, pharmacy, and various scientific fields to describe solution concentrations.
The calculator uses the % w/v formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the percentage concentration by dividing the weight of the solute by the volume of the solution and multiplying by 100 to get a percentage value.
Details: % w/v is crucial for preparing accurate solutions in laboratory settings, pharmaceutical formulations, and various industrial applications. It ensures consistent concentration measurements which are essential for reproducible results in experiments and product quality control.
Tips: Enter the weight of solute in grams and the total volume of solution in milliliters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will automatically compute the percentage weight per volume concentration.
Q1: What's the difference between % w/v and % v/v?
A: % w/v (weight/volume) expresses concentration as mass per volume, while % v/v (volume/volume) expresses concentration as volume per volume. % w/v is used when the solute is a solid, while % v/v is used when both solute and solvent are liquids.
Q2: Can % w/v exceed 100%?
A: No, % w/v cannot exceed 100% as it would imply that the mass of solute exceeds the total volume of solution, which is physically impossible for most practical applications.
Q3: When should I use % w/v instead of molarity?
A: % w/v is preferred when the exact molecular weight of the solute is unknown or when working with mixtures. Molarity is used when precise mole-based calculations are needed for chemical reactions.
Q4: How does temperature affect % w/v measurements?
A: Since volume can change with temperature while mass remains constant, % w/v measurements should specify the temperature at which the volume was measured, especially for precise scientific work.
Q5: Is % w/v the same as density?
A: No, density is mass per unit volume (g/mL), while % w/v is mass per 100 mL expressed as a percentage. A 1% w/v solution has a density slightly higher than 1 g/mL due to the dissolved solute.