Question

A chemist wants to mix a 10% acid solution with a 26% acid solution to obtain 16 liters of a 14% acid solution. How much of the 26% solution should she use?

Answer 1

The 26% solution should she use is explained below in detailed explanation.

Explanation:

Assumed there be 10 percent of x liters of acid solution

Assumed there be 26 percent of y liters of acid solution

provided Information

A chemist needed to combine a 10 percent acid solution with a 26 percent acid solution to obtain 16 liters of a 14 percent acid solution

So, ( 10 / 100 )*x + ( 26 / 100 )*y = ( 14 / 100 )*16

=> 0.1*x + 0.26*y = 0.14*16

=> 0.1*x + 0.26*y = 2.24 ....................... eq 1

x + y = 16 ......................... eq 2

Multiply ( 0.1 ) in both side in eq 2

=> 0.1*x + 0.1*y = 0.1*16

=> 0.1*x + 0.1*y = 1.6 ......................... eq 3

Subtract eq 3 from eq 1

0.1*x - 0.1*x + 0.26*y - 0.1*y = 2.24 - 1.6

=> 0.16*y = 0.64

=> x = 0.64 / 0.16

=> y = 4

So, 4 liters of 26% solution she should utilized