Question

The volume of seawater on Earth is 330,000,000 mi³. If seawater is 3.5% sodium chloride by mass and has a density of 1.03 g/mL, what is the approximate mass of sodium chloride, in tons, dissolved in seawater on Earth? (1 ton = 2000 lbs)

a) Calculate the mass of seawater using volume and density, then find the mass of sodium chloride using its percentage composition.

b) Find the mass of sodium chloride using the given percentage composition and the total volume of seawater.

c) Calculate the mass of sodium chloride by multiplying the volume of seawater by its density and the percentage composition of sodium chloride.

d) Find the mass of sodium chloride by converting the given volume of seawater to liters, then using density and percentage composition.

Answer 1

The mass of sodium chloride dissolved in seawater can be determined by converting the total volume of seawater to milliliters, multiplying by its density to obtain the mass in grams, calculating the mass percentage of sodium chloride, and then converting this mass to tons.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the approximate mass of sodium chloride dissolved in the seawater on Earth, you can follow these steps:

1. First, convert the volume of seawater from cubic miles to milliliters, knowing that 1 cubic mile = 4.16818183 × 1015 milliliters.
2. Next, multiply this volume by the density of seawater (1.03 g/mL) to get the mass of the seawater in grams.
3. Then, use the percentage of sodium chloride (3.5%) to determine its mass within the seawater.
4. Convert the mass of sodium chloride from grams to tons, bearing in mind that 1 ton = 2,000 pounds and 1 pound = 453.592 grams.

The formula will look like this:

Mass of sodium chloride in tons = (330,000,000 mi³ × 4.16818183 × 1015 mL/mi³ × 1.03 g/mL) × (3.5% / 100) × (1 lb / 453.592 g) × (1 ton / 2000 lbs)