A solution is prepared by adding 40 g of a substance to 36 g of water. Calculate the mass percent of the solute.

Understand the Problem

The question is asking to calculate the mass percent of a solute in a solution, given the mass of the solute and the mass of the solvent (water). To find the mass percent, we will use the formula: (mass of solute / total mass of solution) x 100.

Answer

The mass percent of the solute is given by: $$ \text{Mass Percent} = \left( \frac{m_s}{m_s + m_w} \right) \times 100 $$

Steps to Solve

Calculate Total Mass of Solution
The total mass of the solution is the sum of the mass of the solute and the mass of the solvent.
If the mass of the solute is $m_s$ and the mass of the solvent is $m_w$, then:
$$ m_{total} = m_s + m_w $$
Use the Mass Percent Formula
Now, we will use the mass percent formula:
The formula for mass percent of the solute is given by:
$$ \text{Mass Percent} = \left( \frac{m_s}{m_{total}} \right) \times 100 $$
Substitute Values into the Formula
Insert the values of the mass of the solute and the total mass of the solution into the mass percent formula to find the answer.
Calculate the Mass Percent
Perform the math to calculate the mass percent.

The final answer for the mass percent of the solute in the solution is calculated as:
$$ \text{Mass Percent} = \left( \frac{m_s}{m_s + m_w} \right) \times 100 $$

More Information

Mass percent is a way to express the concentration of a solute in a solution. It shows how much of the solution's total mass is made up of the solute. This concept is often used in chemistry to prepare solutions of a specific concentration.

Tips

Forgetting to sum the mass of the solute and solvent to get the total mass.
Using incorrect units or mixing grams with kilograms without conversion.
Not multiplying by 100 to convert the fraction to a percentage.

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