How many ml of 2% stock solution is needed to compound 200ml of 0.5%?

1 answer

To find out how many milliliters of a 2% stock solution are needed to make 200 mL of a 0.5% solution, you can use the dilution formula:

\[ C_1 \times V_1 = C_2 \times V_2 \]

Where:

  • \(C_1\) = concentration of the stock solution (2% or 0.02 as a fraction)
  • \(V_1\) = volume of the stock solution to be found (in mL)
  • \(C_2\) = concentration of the final solution (0.5% or 0.005 as a fraction)
  • \(V_2\) = volume of the final solution (200 mL)

Now, rearranging the formula to solve for \(V_1\):

\[ V_1 = \frac{C_2 \times V_2}{C_1} \]

Substituting in the values:

\[ V_1 = \frac{0.005 \times 200}{0.02} \]

Calculating it step by step:

  1. Calculate \(0.005 \times 200 = 1\)
  2. Now divide that by \(0.02\): \[ V_1 = \frac{1}{0.02} = 50 \text{ mL} \]

So, you will need 50 mL of the 2% stock solution to prepare 200 mL of a 0.5% solution.