Final answer:
To calculate the total milligrams of local anesthetic in 3 cartridges of 3% mepivacaine, multiply the concentration by the volume of one cartridge and then by the number of cartridges. Each cartridge provides 54 mg, so three cartridges provide a total of 162 mg of mepivacaine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to calculate the total amount of local anesthetic provided by 3 cartridges of 3% mepivacaine. Each dental cartridge typically contains 1.8 mL of solution. To determine the total milligrams of anesthetic, the following calculation is performed:
Mg of anesthetic per cartridge = Percentage concentration (3%) × Volume of cartridge (1.8 mL) × Density of mepivacaine (1 g/mL)
So, for one cartridge: 0.03 × 1.8 mL × 1000 mg/g = 54 mg
Then, for three cartridges: 54 mg/cartridge × 3 cartridges = 162 mg
Therefore, the correct answer is d. 162 mg.