Question

A chemist needs to mix a 12% acid solution with a 20% acid solution to obtain 160 ounces of a 15% acid solution. How many ounces of each of the acid solutions must be used?

Answer 1

100 ounces of 12% solution and 60 ounces of the 20% solution.

Explanation:

Let x ounces be the amount of 12% solution, then there will be 160-x ounces of the 20% solution.

So, we have the equation:

0.12x + 0.20(160 - x) = 0.15* 160

0.12x - 0.20x + 32 = 24

-0.08x = -8

x = 100.

So, it is 100 ounces of 12% solution and 60 ounces of the 20% solution.