Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Molarity
Molarity is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is expressed in moles per liter (mol/L). To calculate molarity, one must know the amount of solute in moles and the volume of the solution in liters. This concept is essential for converting the given milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) of ions in the ORS to molarity.
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Milliequivalents
Milliequivalents (mEq) are a unit of measurement that expresses the amount of a substance based on its chemical activity or reactivity, particularly in relation to ions. One milliequivalent is equivalent to one-thousandth of an equivalent, which is the amount of a substance that can combine with or displace one mole of hydrogen ions. Understanding how to convert mEq to moles is crucial for calculating the molarity of the ORS components.
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Glucose Concentration
The concentration of glucose in the ORS is given as a mass/volume percentage (m/v), specifically 2.0%. This means there are 2 grams of glucose in 100 mL of solution. To find the molarity of glucose, one must convert this mass into moles using its molecular weight (180 g/mol) and then adjust for the volume of the solution in liters. This calculation is necessary to complete the overall molarity assessment of the ORS.
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