Question

I need to prepare 500 ml of a 37% w/w solution of sulfuric acid using 96% sulfuric acid in deionized water. I have been shown a bunch of different ways and they all give a different answer and I'm getting frustrated

Answer 1

.37* 500 = .96 x

where x is the amount of strong stuff you put in
500 - x is the amount of water

Answer 2

I don't think there is enough information to answer this question. I believe the answer posted is for a 500 GRAM solution but it won't be 500 mL. The density of a 37% H2SO4 solution is right at 1.05 g/mL so the volume will be about 476 mL. Have I missed the boat? I solved the problem privately but for question like this in the past the student has insisted on not using density. I don't know how to do it without knowing(using) density.

Answer 3

This problem cannot be done without density. 500ml of a solution at 37Percent w/w is Not 500grams. Now if that solution was 37 w/v, this problem of needing density goes away.
One cannot assume density is the same as water.

Answer 4

Thank you Bob Pursley.