Concentrated acid

Question

Concentrated sulfuric acid is 18.0 M. You need to make a 2.0 L of 1.0 M solution from this concentrated acid. What volume of the original acid do you use?

Answer 1

For dilution problems such as this, you can use V1M1 = V2M2

V1 = initial volume = ?

M1 = initial concentration = 18.0 M

V2 = final volume = 2.0 L

M2 = final concentration = 1.0 M

You can use mls or L as your volume as long as they are the same on both sides of the equation.

(x L)(18.0 M) = (2.0 L)(1.0 M)

x = (2.0 L)(1.0 M) / (18.0 M)

x = 0.11 L = 110 mls (2 sig. figs.)