Q.If the concentration of glucose (C6H12O6) in blood is 0.9 g L−1, what will be the molarity of glucose in blood?
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Molality: The Concentration That Ignores Temperature
Imagine you're making a cup of sweet tea. You add sugar to hot water, stir, and taste. If you let the tea cool to room temperature, the amount of sugar hasn't changed — but the volume of the liquid has shrunk slightly. If you measured concentration as "grams of sugar per litre of solution," that number would change just because the temperature changed. That's annoying if you're a chemist who needs a reliable, temperature-independent way to describe how much solute is present.
Molality was invented to solve exactly this problem.
The Intuition
Instead of measuring the volume of the solution (which expands and contracts with temperature), molality measures the mass of the solvent. Mass doesn't change with temperature. So molality gives you a concentration that stays the same whether your solution is hot or cold.
Think of it this way:
- Molarity = moles of solute per litre of solution (temperature-sensitive)
- Molality = moles of solute per kilogram of solvent (temperature-independent)
The solvent is the substance doing the dissolving — usually water. The solute is what gets dissolved — sugar, salt, etc.
The Precise Definition
Molality (m)=kilograms of solventmoles of solute
The symbol for molality is a lowercase m (not to be confused with M for molarity).
Key points to remember:
- The denominator is solvent mass, not solution mass
- The unit is mol/kg (often written as simply "m")
- It is independent of temperature because mass doesn't change with temperature
Worked Example
Problem: 36 g of glucose (C6H12O6, molar mass = 180 g/mol) is dissolved in 500 g of water. Calculate the molality of the solution.
Step 1: Find moles of solute
Moles of glucose=180 g/mol36 g=0.2 mol
Step 2: Convert solvent mass to kilograms
500 g=0.5 kg
Step 3: Apply the formula
m=0.5 kg0.2 mol=0.4 m
The answer is 0.4 m (or 0.4 mol/kg). Notice we used the mass of water (500 g), not the mass of the solution (which would be 536 g).
Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not use the mass of the solution in the denominator. The formula specifically asks for the mass of the solvent alone. If the problem gives you the total mass of the solution, subtract the mass of the solute to find the solvent mass.
When Do You Use Molality?
Molality is the star in two important situations: …
Why this formula?
Molality Calculation: Why the Formula Works
Molality is a measure of concentration that is temperature-independent — this is its key advantage over molarity. Let's understand why the formula takes the form it does.
The Definition First
Molality (m) is defined as:
m=mass of solvent in kgmoles of solute
The unit is mol/kg, often written as m (e.g., 0.5 m glucose solution).
Why Mass of Solvent, Not Solution?
This is the critical conceptual point.
The Reasoning
- Molarity uses volume of solution → volume changes with temperature (expansion/contraction). So molarity changes with temperature.
- Molality uses mass of solvent → mass is invariant with temperature. So molality remains constant regardless of temperature changes.
Key insight: By using the solvent's mass (not the solution's volume), we eliminate temperature dependence. This is why molality is preferred for colligative properties (boiling point elevation, freezing point depression) — these properties depend on the number of solute particles, not on temperature.
Deriving the Formula Step-by-Step
Step 1: Moles of Solute
If you have wsolute grams of solute with molar mass Msolute (g/mol):
moles of solute=Msolutewsolute
Step 2: Mass of Solvent in kg
If the solvent mass is Wsolvent grams:
mass of solvent in kg=1000Wsolvent
Step 3: Putting It Together
m=1000WsolventMsolutewsolute
Simplifying:
m=Msolute×Wsolventwsolute×1000
The Final Formula (Exam-Ready)
m=Msolute×Wsolventwsolute×1000
Where:
- wsolute = mass of solute in grams
- Msolute = molar mass of solute in g/mol
- Wsolvent = mass of solvent in grams
Why the ×1000 Factor? …
The key idea is molarity calculation: molarity (M) = moles of solute per litre of solution.
Step 1: Find the molar mass of glucose (C6H12O6).
6×12+12×1+6×16=72+12+96=180 g mol−1.
Step 2: Convert the given concentration to moles per litre.
Moles of glucose in 1 L = 180 g mol−10.9 g=0.005 mol. …
Molarity is moles per litre. Given 0.9 g L−1 of glucose (molar mass 180 g mol−1), the molarity is 0.9/180=0.005 M. The correct option is (iii).
The question asks for molarity, not molality — a common point of confusion. Molarity (M) is defined as the number of moles of solute per litre of solution. Here, the concentration is already given in grams per litre (g L−1), which is a mass concentration. Converting that to molarity is straightforward: divide by the molar mass of glucose.
Glucose has the formula C6H12O6. Let’s calculate its molar mass quickly:
- Carbon: 6×12=72
- Hydrogen: 12×1=12
- Oxygen: 6×16=96
- Total: 72+12+96=180 g mol−1
Now, the given mass concentration is 0.9 g L−1. That means every litre of blood contains 0.9 grams of glucose.
-
Find moles of glucose per litre
Moles = mass / molar mass = 0.9 g/180 g mol−1=0.005 mol.
-
Molarity is moles per litre
Since we already have the mass per litre, the moles per litre is exactly 0.005 mol L−1, which is 0.005 M. …
Method: Molarity from Mass Concentration
Concept first: Molarity (M) tells us the number of moles of solute per litre of solution.
We are given mass per litre (0.9 g L−1). To convert to moles per litre, we need the molar mass of glucose.
Steps
Step 1 — Find molar mass of glucose (C6H12O6)
- Carbon: 6×12=72
- Hydrogen: 12×1=12
- Oxygen: 6×16=96
Molar mass = 72+12+96=180 g mol−1
Step 2 — Convert mass concentration to molarity
Molarity (M) = molar mass (g/mol)mass per litre (g/L) …
Step 1: Understand what is being asked
We are given:
- Solute: glucose, C6H12O6
- Concentration: 0.9 g L−1 (mass per volume)
- We need: Molarity (moles per litre)
Molarity =volume of solution in litresmoles of solute
So the first step is to convert grams per litre into moles per litre.
Step 2: Calculate molar mass of glucose
Glucose: C6H12O6
- Carbon: 6×12=72
- Hydrogen: 12×1=12
- Oxygen: 6×16=96
Molar mass =72+12+96=180 g mol−1
Step 3: Convert given concentration to molarity
Given: 0.9 g L−1
Moles per litre =1800.9=0.005 mol L−1
So molarity =0.005 M
Correct answer: (iii) 0.005 M
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
✗ Mistake 1: Confusing molality with molarity
- What students do: They try to use mass of solvent or density, which is not given.
- Why it’s wrong: Molarity uses volume of solution (given as 1 L here). Molality uses mass of solvent (in kg).
- How to avoid: Read the unit carefully — g L−1 is a mass/volume concentration, directly convertible to molarity.
✗ Mistake 2: Forgetting to convert grams to moles
- What students do: They take 0.9 g L−1 and think it’s already moles.
- Why it’s wrong: Molarity is moles per litre, not grams per litre.
- How to avoid: Always ask: “Is this in grams or moles?” If grams, divide by molar mass.
✗ Mistake 3: Incorrect molar mass of glucose
- What students do: Use C6H12O6 as 6+12+6=24 or forget to multiply atomic masses.
- Why it’s wrong: Each element’s atomic mass must be multiplied by its subscript.
- How to avoid: Write out the calculation step-by-step: 6×12=72, 12×1=12, 6×16=96, then sum.
✗ Mistake 4: Decimal error in division
- What students do: 0.9÷180=0.005 but they write 0.05 or 0.5.
- Why it’s wrong: Misplacing the decimal changes the answer by a factor of 10 or 100. …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.The normality of 20 volume solution of hydrogen peroxide is (A) 0.892N (B) 1.785N (C) 2.678N (D) 3.570N
›Reveal solutionSolution
"20 volume" means 1 L of solution releases 20 L of O2 at STP; using N=5.6volume strength gives N=5.620=3.57 N - option (D).
Meaning of volume strength. A "20 volume" H2O2 solution liberates 20 L of O2 (at STP) per litre of solution on decomposition:
2H2O2→2H2O+O2
Step 1 - Moles of O2 per litre.
nO2=22.420=0.893 mol
Step 2 - Moles and equivalents of H2O2. …
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-18-FN1 markMCQQ.The amount of 50 % (w/w) solution of hydrochloric acid required to react with 200 g of CaCO3 would be (A) 73 g (B) 292 g (C) 146 g (D) 100 g
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key is to use the balanced chemical equation and stoichiometry to find the mass of pure HCl needed, then convert to the mass of the 50% w/w solution. The required mass is 292 g, so option (B) is correct.
Concept & Intuition
This problem is about reacting hydrochloric acid with calcium carbonate. The reaction is a classic acid–carbonate neutralization:
CaCO3+2HCl→CaCl2+CO2+H2O
We are given a 50% w/w solution — meaning 50 g of pure HCl per 100 g of solution. So the actual mass of solution needed will be double the mass of pure HCl required. The trap is forgetting to account for the dilution and just picking the mass of pure HCl.
Step-by-step solution
- Write the balanced equation
CaCO3+2HCl→CaCl2+CO2+H2O
This tells us: 1 mole of CaCO₃ reacts with 2 moles of HCl.
- Find moles of CaCO₃ Molar mass of CaCO₃ = 40 (Ca) + 12 (C) + 3×16 (O) = 100 g/mol. Given mass = 200 g.
Moles of CaCO3=100200=2 mol
-
Find moles of HCl needed
From the equation: 1 mol CaCO₃ needs 2 mol HCl.
So 2 mol CaCO₃ need 2×2=4 mol HCl.
-
Find mass of pure HCl required
Molar mass of HCl = 1 + 35.5 = 36.5 g/mol.
Mass of pure HCl=4×36.5=146 g …
- TG EAPCET 2021Set ap-2021-08-10-AN1 markMCQQ.The strength of 50 volume of H2O2 solution is approximately. (A) 50% (B) 25% (C) 10% (D) 15%
›Reveal solutionSolution
The "volume strength" of hydrogen peroxide is the volume of O2 (at STP) released per volume of solution. For a 50-volume solution the strength (w/v) is about 15%, so the correct option is (D).
Concept & Intuition
"Volume strength" (e.g. "10 volume," "50 volume") labels a hydrogen peroxide solution by the volume of oxygen it releases: 1 mL of the solution produces that many mL of O2 at STP on decomposition. The decomposition is
2H2O2→2H2O+O2
To convert volume strength into a percentage (g of H2O2 per 100 mL of solution), use the molar volume at STP (22.4 L/mol) and the molar mass of H2O2 (34 g/mol).
Step-by-step reasoning
-
Interpret "50 volume"
1 mL of solution yields 50 mL of O2 at STP, so 1 L of solution yields 50×1000=50000 mL = 50 L of O2.
-
Moles of O2
nO2=22.450≈2.232 mol
-
Moles of H2O2
From the 2:1 ratio, nH2O2=2×2.232=4.464 mol.
-
Mass of H2O2 per litre
With molar mass 34 g/mol,
m=4.464×34≈151.8 g per litre
- Express as a percentage (w/v) …
-
- TG EAPCET 2021Set ap-2021-08-10-FN1 markMCQQ.The strength of 50 volume of H2O2 solution is approximately. (A) 50% (B) 25% (C) 10% (D) 15%
›Reveal solutionSolution
"Volume strength" of H2O2 is the volume of O2 (at STP) released per volume of solution. For a 50-volume solution, converting through the decomposition 2H2O2→2H2O+O2 gives a strength of about 15%, so the correct option is (D).
Why this approach works
"Volume strength" tells you how many millilitres of oxygen gas (at STP) one millilitre of the solution releases on decomposition. So a "50 volume" solution means 1 mL of solution yields 50 mL of O2.
To convert this into a percentage by mass (w/v), we:
- find the mass of H2O2 that produces that volume of oxygen, using the decomposition stoichiometry;
- relate that mass to the mass of solution (density approx 1 g/mL for dilute solutions).
The bridge is the balanced equation:
2H2O2→2H2O+O2
so 2 moles of H2O2 give 1 mole of O2.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Moles of oxygen from the given volume At STP, 1 mole of gas occupies 22400 mL. For 50 mL of O2 (from 1 mL of solution):
nO2=2240050=4481 mol
-
Moles of H2O2 that produce this oxygen
From the 2:1 ratio, nH2O2=2×4481=2241 mol.
-
Mass of H2O2
Molar mass of H2O2=34 g/mol, so
m=2241×34=22434≈0.152 g …
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