Question

A sample of drinking water from a local source was analyzed for its composition using mass balance calculations. The sample was found to contain 100 mg/L of calcium ions, 50 mg/L of magnesium ions, 20 mg/L of chloride ions, and 10 mg/L of sulfate ions. If the total volume of the sample was measured to be 50 mL, what is the mass of each ion present in the sample?

Answer 1

To find the mass of each ion present in the sample, we need to convert the concentrations  mg/L  to mass  mg  using the volume of the sample  50 mL .First, we need to convert the volume from mL to L:50 mL = 50/1000 L = 0.05 LNow, we can calculate the mass of each ion using the concentration and volume:1. Calcium ions:Concentration = 100 mg/LVolume = 0.05 LMass = Concentration  VolumeMass = 100 mg/L  0.05 L = 5 mg2. Magnesium ions:Concentration = 50 mg/LVolume = 0.05 LMass = Concentration  VolumeMass = 50 mg/L  0.05 L = 2.5 mg3. Chloride ions:Concentration = 20 mg/LVolume = 0.05 LMass = Concentration  VolumeMass = 20 mg/L  0.05 L = 1 mg4. Sulfate ions:Concentration = 10 mg/LVolume = 0.05 LMass = Concentration  VolumeMass = 10 mg/L  0.05 L = 0.5 mgSo, the mass of each ion present in the sample is as follows:- Calcium ions: 5 mg- Magnesium ions: 2.5 mg- Chloride ions: 1 mg- Sulfate ions: 0.5 mg