An aqueous KNO₃ solution is made using 72.5 g of KNO₃ diluted to a total solution volume of 2.00 L. Calculate the molality of the solution. (Assume a density of 1.05 g/mL for the solution.)

Key Concepts

Molarity and Molality

Molarity (M) is defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution, while molality (m) is the number of moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. Understanding the difference between these two concentration units is crucial for solving problems involving solutions, especially when the volume and mass of the solvent are involved.

Calculating Moles from Mass

To find the number of moles of a substance, you can use the formula: moles = mass (g) / molar mass (g/mol). For KNO3, the molar mass is approximately 101.1 g/mol. This calculation is essential for determining the concentration of the solution in terms of molality.

Density and Volume Relationships

Density is defined as mass per unit volume (g/mL or g/cm³). In this problem, the density of the solution is given as 1.05 g/mL, which allows us to convert the total volume of the solution into mass. This conversion is necessary to calculate the mass of the solvent, which is required for determining molality.