Final answer:
To find the volume of solution needed for 0.25 mg of epinephrine, set up the proportion using the given solution strength label and solve for the unknown volume, which results in 1.25 mL.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the volume of solution needed to obtain 0.25 mg of epinephrine, we must set up a proportion based on the ratio provided: 5,000 mL contains 1 gram of epinephrine.
Note that 1 gram is equivalent to 1,000 mg, so 5,000 mL contains 1,000 mg of epinephrine.
We want to find how many mL would contain 0.25 mg of epinephrine.
First, convert the given mass of epinephrine to the same units used in the solution strength label:
- 1 gram = 1,000 milligrams (mg)
- Set up the proportion: (5,000 mL / 1,000 mg) = (x mL / 0.25 mg)
- Cross-multiply and solve for x: 1,000 mg × x mL = 0.25 mg × 5,000 mL
- x = (0.25 mg × 5,000 mL) / 1,000 mg
- x = 1.25 mL
Therefore, you would need 1.25 mL of the solution to obtain 0.25 mg of epinephrine.