Worked Examples of Math in Biology

Example: You dilute 100mL of a 5.00M stock solution until the final volume is 450mL. What is the final diluted concentration of the solution? Solution: a. Organization Write down the given values and what you are solving for. This allows you to determine how to begin answering the question. Initial Volume ( V1 ) = 100 mL Initial Concentration ( C1 ) = 5.00M Final Volume ( V2 ) = 450 mL Final Concentration ( C 2 ) = ? b. To solve for C 2 , use the formula C1V1 C2V2 and isolate for C 2

C1V1 C2V2 5.00M 100mL C2 450mL

5.00M (100mL) C2 450mL

450mL 450mL

5.00M (100mL) C
450mL

1.11M C2
_______________________________________________________________________ Problem 1: How do you make a 0.400 L solution with a concentration of 2.50 M from a stock concentration of 5.00M? [Check your answer V1 = 0.200L. You will require 0.200L of stock and 0.200L of solvent (e.g. water) in order to reach a final volume of 0.400L.] _______________________________________________________________________

Problem 2: Determine the concentration of the final solution if you dissolve 5.84g of NaCl in 20 L of water. a. Organization Mass of NaCl = 5.84g Volume = 20 L Concentration = X b. Remember that Concentrat ion

Moles Volume You know that you will require both moles and volume to answer this question. Mass Moles You can isolate and solve for moles with this equation.

c. Remember that Molar Mass

Moles

Mass Molar Mass

5.84 g 22.99 g / mol 35.45 g / mol

Moles

Moles 0.1 moles

d. Check the answer. [Concentration = 0.005 mol/L or 0.005M] ______________________________________________________________________ Problem 3: A) You have a stock solution at a concentration of 5 M. If you add 5 L of solvent to 3 L of stock, what will your final concentration be? a. Organization Stock Volume ( V1 ) = 3 L Stock Concentration ( C1 ) = 5 M Final Volume ( V2 ) = 3L + 5L Final Concentration ( C 2 ) = ? b. To solve for C 2 , use the formula C1V1 C2V2 and isolate for C 2 . Check the answer. [C2 = 1.875 M]

B) What was the dilution factor in part A)? a. Organization Diluted Concentration (Cd) = 1.875 M Stock Concentration (Cs) = 5 M Dilution Factor (D) = ? b. To solve for D , use Cd Cs D and isolate for D . Check the answer. [D = 0.375]
Sample Volume . As such, part B) can also be solved with this equation Total Volume where the sample is the stock in this case. _____________________________________________________________________

Note that D

Problem 4: Determine the diluted concentration of a bacterial culture if you have a 30 mL solution containing exactly 500 bacteria and you dilute it 3x. *Note: Diluting something X times, translates to the dilution factor as 1/X. a. Organization 500 Bacteria in 30mL (can use Cs Diluted 3x, D
Cd ?

500 ) 30

1 3

b. To solve for Cd , use Cd Cs D c. Check the answer. [Cd = 5.6 bacteria/mL] ______________________________________________________________________ Problem 5: If you are given a stock solution of 200 g/L and dilute 2L of it with 6L of buffer, what is the final concentration? What was the dilution factor? [Check your answers: final concentration Cd = 50 g/L, dilution factor D = 0.25] ______________________________________________________________________ Problem 6: What is the stock concentration of a solution if you have a 5x diluted sample containing 40 units in 7 L? [Check your answer. Cs = 28.6 units per L] ______________________________________________________________________