Final answer:
The ratio of pure drug to solution refers to the concentration expressed as a proportion, such as 1:1000, which is common in health sciences. This ratio can also be converted into percentages or parts per million (ppm) and parts per billion (ppb) for more precise expressions of concentration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "What is the ratio of pure drug to solution?" generally pertains to the field of Chemistry, specifically within the context of solutions and concentrations used in health sciences and pharmacology. When we speak about the ratio of a pure drug to the whole solution, it usually refers to expressing the concentration of a substance within a mixture. Commonly, this is shown as a proportion such as 1:1000, indicating that there is one part of the pure drug to every thousand parts of the solution.
Calculating Ratios and Percentages
A ratio expresses the relative amount of two things. In the health sciences, the ratio of solute to solution is significant, for example, 40 mL ethanol in a 240 mL solution gives a ratio of 40:240, which simplifies to 1:6. This is equivalent to a percentage of 16.7% ethanol, meaning that in every hundred parts of the solution, there are 16.7 parts of the pure ethanol.
Converting Ratios to Different Scales
Additionally, ratios are used in different scales like parts per million (ppm) and parts per billion (ppb), where they demonstrate the mass of the solute in relation to the mass of the solution, multiplied by 10^6 for ppm and 10^9 for ppb, respectively. This is particularly useful for expressing extremely small concentrations of a substance.
Understanding Complexity in Ratios
When dealing with more complex situations, such as those involving dilutions or mole ratios, it's important to understand the relationship between the components. For instance, if there's a concentration of 0.029 M (moles per liter), and you need to find out the required volume, it involves using mole ratio calculations or dilution equations. An understanding of ratios helps navigate these situations effectively.