Question

Nicole needs 180 milliliters of a 54% acid solution for a chemistry experiment. She has two acid solutions, A and B, that can be mixed together to form the solution. Solution A is 50% acid, and Solution B is 60% acid. How much of each solution should she use to create the mixture?

Answer 1

Let:

x = number of ml of 50% acid solution A

y = amount of acid B in x ml of 60% of acid solution

where:

y = 180 - x

A and B, that can be mixed together to form the solution, therefore:

0.5x + 0.6(180 - x) = 180*0.54

0.5x + 108 - 0.6x = 97.2

-0.1x + 108 = 97.2

Solving for x:

-0.1x = 97.2 - 108

-0.1x = -10.8

x = -10.8/-0.1 = 108

since y = 180 - x

y = 180 - 108 = 72

She needs:

108ml of solution A and 72 ml of solution B