what is the mass of solute dissolved in 50.0g of a 12.5% saline solution?

Question

Sky · Accepted Answer

I just selcted 4.00g but it was wrong the correct answerr is 6.25g but i do not know how they got that answer.

Dr Russ · Answer

As we have no other information then assume that it is % w/w Hence mass of solute is 0.125 x 50 g

Andriea · Answer

4.00

Sky · Answer

4.00g

KC · Answer

6.25 is correct

Katelyn · Answer

The answer is 6.25g because 12.5% is the mass percent of the saline solution (aka grams of Salt per 100 grams of water). You set up the problem as 0.125 (or 12.5%)= a certain amount of grams of NaCl divided by 100 grams of water. You multiply 0.125 by 100 and get 12.5 grams of NaCl for every 100 grams of water. However, since the question is asking for the mass of solute (NaCl) per every 50 grams of water, you divide 12.5 grams by 2 (since 100 divided by 2 is 50) and get 6.25 grams of NaCl.