In a science lab, acids and bases are often stored in high concentration "stock" bottles and then diluted as needed.
If 100 mL of a 12 M solution of HCl is diluted to a final volume of 500 mL, what would be the final concentration of the diluted HCl?
Answer: 2.4M
12/5 = 2.4, yes
To find the final concentration of the diluted HCl, you need to use the formula for dilution:
C1V1 = C2V2
Where:
- C1 is the initial concentration of the solution (12 M)
- V1 is the initial volume of the solution (100 mL)
- C2 is the final concentration of the solution (unknown)
- V2 is the final volume of the solution (500 mL)
Plug in the values:
(12 M)(100 mL) = C2(500 mL)
Simplify the equation:
1200 M·mL = 500 C2 M·mL
Divide both sides by 500 mL:
1200 M·mL / 500 mL = C2
Simplify:
2.4 M = C2
Therefore, the final concentration of the diluted HCl is 2.4 M.