Percent Concentration and Dilution Calculator
Calculate the percent mass/mass (%w/w) or percent mass/volume (%w/v) concentration of your solutions. Find the amount of substance needed to achieve the desired concentration or perform dilution calculations (C1V1=C2V2).
Select the Type of Calculation You Want to Perform
Calculate Percent Concentration
Calculate the percent concentration by entering the mass of solute and the total amount of solution. Make sure to select the correct units for the concentration type (w/w or w/v).
What is Percent Concentration?
**Percentage concentration** is a common unit of concentration that expresses the ratio of solute in a solution to the total solution as a percentage. It is often used in chemical, biological, and pharmaceutical applications.
There are basically two main types:
1. Mass/Mass Percent Concentration (%w/w)
The mass/mass percent concentration of a solution is found by multiplying the ratio of the mass of the solute to the mass of the total solution by 100. Both the solute and the solvent can be solid, liquid, or gas.
%w/w = (Solute Mass / Total Solution Mass) × 100
- Solution Mass = Solute Mass + Solvent Mass
- Units are usually in grams (g) or kilograms (kg).
**Example:** Solution prepared by dissolving 10 g of salt in 90 g of water:
Solution Mass = 10 g (salt) + 90 g (water) = 100 g
%w/w = (10 g / 100 g) × 100 = 10% w/w salt solution
2. Mass/Volume Percent Concentration (%w/v)
The mass/volume percent concentration of a solution is found by multiplying the ratio of the mass of the solute to the volume of the total solution by 100. Usually, the solute is a solid and the solvent is a liquid.
%w/v = (Solute Mass / Total Solution Volume) × 100
- The solute is usually measured in grams (g) and the solution volume is measured in milliliters (mL).
**Example:** Solution prepared by dissolving 5 g of sugar in a solution with a total volume of 250 mL:
%w/v = (5 g / 250 mL) × 100 = 2% w/v sugar solution
What is the Dilution Calculator (C1V1=C2V2)?
The dilution calculator is based on the principle of **C1V1 = C2V2**, a basic formula used to change the concentration of a solution. This formula helps you find the values needed to prepare a solution with a lower concentration (C2) and/or a different volume (V2) from a known stock solution (concentration C1, volume V1).
- **C1:** Initial (Stock) Solution Concentration
- **V1:** Initial (Stock) Solution Volume
- **C2:** Target (Diluted) Solution Concentration
- **V2:** Target (Diluted) Solution Volume
This calculator automatically finds the fourth by entering three known values. As long as the concentration units (e.g. percent, molarity, ppm) and volume units (e.g. mL, L) are consistent on both sides, the formula is valid.
Application Areas:
- **Pharmacy and Medicine:** Determination of drug dosages and serum concentrations.
- **Food Science:** Control of the proportions of ingredients (sugar, salt, etc.) in food products.
- **Industrial Chemistry:** Preparation and quality control of chemical mixtures in production processes.
- **Environmental Engineering:** Monitoring of pollutant concentrations in water and wastewater analysis.
- **Laboratory Studies:** Preparation of standard solutions in biology, chemistry and medical laboratories.
These calculators are a tool for basic percent concentration and dilution calculations. In real world applications, factors such as temperature, density (especially when determining the volume of the solvent in %w/v calculations), volume changes of the solute in the solvent, and chemical reactions can affect the results. For precise applications, laboratory measurements and additional chemical principles should be considered. The formula C1V1=C2V2 provides the most accurate results, especially when working with ideal solutions and the same concentration units.