The units of parts per million (ppm) and parts per billion (ppb) are commonly used by environmental chemists. In general, 1 ppm means 1 part of solute for every 106 parts of solution. (Both solute and solution are measured using the same units.) Mathematically, by mass, ppm can be expressed as shown below.

Question

ppm = µg solute/ g solution = mg solute/ kg solution

In the case of very dilute aqueous solutions, a concentration of 1.0 ppm is equal to 1.0 µg of solute per 1.0 mL of solution, which equals 1.0 g of solution. Parts per billion is defined in a similar fashion. Calculate the molarity of each of the following aqueous solutions.

(a) 4.9 ppb Hg in H2O

__M

(b) 1.8 ppb CHCl3 in H2O

__M

(c) 33.0 ppm As in H2O

__M

(d) 0.28 ppm DDT (C14H9Cl5) in H2O

__M

Answer 1

I have another unit I use. 1 ppm = 1 mg solute/1 L solution and
1 ppb = 1 ug solute/1 L solution.
a, So 4.9 ppb Hg = 4.9 ug Hg/L
Convert ug Hg to grams Hg.
Convert g Hg to mols Hg and since mols/L is the definition of M that is it.

The others are done the same way. Post your work if you get stuck.