Concentration of a Solution

Mass Percentage or Volume Percentage

The mass percentage of a component in a given solution is the mass of the component per 100g of the solution. For e.g., if W_A is the mass of the component A, W_B is the mass of the component B in a solution. Then,

Example: A 10% solution of sodium chloride in water (by mass) means that 10g of sodium chloride are present in 100g of the solution.

Volume percentage

This unit is used in case of a liquid dissolved in another liquid. The volume percentage is defined as the volume of the solute per 100 parts by volume of solution.

For e.g., If V_A is the volume of component A present is V_sol volume of the solution.

Then,

For e.g., a 10% solution of ethanol C₂H₅OH, in water (by volume) means that 10cm³ of ethanol is present in 100cm³ of the solution.