Final answer:
Molarity is limited by its dependency on temperature, which affects the volume of the solution, potentially leading to inaccuracies in concentration calculations for precise chemical work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Molarity is limited by the fact that it is temperature-dependent because the volume of the solution can vary with temperature. Molarity is defined as the number of moles of solute divided by the volume of the solution in liters.
Since this definition involves volume, which can change with temperature due to changes in density, the molarity can differ if a solution is prepared or used at a temperature different from that at which the glassware was calibrated, typically 20°C. For precise chemical work where temperature varies, other units of concentration like molality, mole fraction, or mass percentage may be preferred as they are based on masses that do not change with temperature.
When calculating molarity, the amount of the solute should be expressed in moles, and the volume of the solution should be expressed in liters. This approach enables chemists to determine either the amount of solute or the volume of the solution if either of the two is given. For a wide range of applications, molarity is useful, but its sensitivity to temperature can lead to errors in measurement, hence the consideration of other units of concentration for different scenarios.