Question

A pharmacist dilutes 5 L of a 12% solution with a 6% solution. How many liters of the 6% solution must be added to make an 8% solution?

A) 1.25 L
B) 2.5 L
C) 3.75 L
D) None of the above

Answer 1

To make an 8% solution by diluting a 12% solution with a 6% solution, 10 liters of the 6% solution must be added.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this problem, we can set up an equation based on the principle of concentration times volume equals mass. Let's denote x as the number of liters of the 6% solution that needs to be added. The initial concentration of the 12% solution is 0.12 and the final concentration of the 8% solution is 0.08. The equation becomes:

5(0.12) + x(0.06) = (5 + x)(0.08)

Simplifying the equation, we get: 0.6 + 0.06x = 0.4 + 0.08x

0.02x = 0.2

x = 10

Therefore, 10 liters of the 6% solution must be added to make an 8% solution. Therefore, the correct answer is (D) None of the above.