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Ch.9 Solutions
Chapter 9, Problem 84

n isotonic solution must be approximately 0.30 osmol/L. How much KCl is needed to prepare 175 mL of an isotonic solution?

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Determine the molarity of the isotonic solution by using the given osmolarity. Since the solution is isotonic at 0.30 osmol/L, this is the concentration of solute particles in the solution.
Recognize that KCl dissociates into two ions, K^+ and Cl^-, in solution. Therefore, 1 mole of KCl will produce 2 osmoles of particles.
Calculate the molarity of KCl needed by dividing the osmolarity by the number of particles produced per formula unit of KCl. This will give you the molarity of KCl in the solution.
Use the formula \( \text{moles} = \text{molarity} \times \text{volume in liters} \) to find the number of moles of KCl needed for 175 mL (0.175 L) of solution.
Convert the moles of KCl to grams using the molar mass of KCl (approximately 74.55 g/mol). This will give you the mass of KCl required to prepare the isotonic solution.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Osmolality

Osmolality refers to the concentration of solute particles in a solution, expressed in osmoles per liter (osmol/L). It is crucial for understanding how solutions affect cell behavior, particularly in biological contexts. An isotonic solution has the same osmolality as body fluids, preventing net movement of water across cell membranes.
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Isotonic Solution

An isotonic solution is one that has an equal concentration of solutes compared to another solution, typically body fluids. This balance ensures that cells neither swell nor shrink due to osmosis, maintaining cellular integrity. In medical applications, isotonic solutions are often used for intravenous fluids to avoid cellular damage.
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Molarity and Mass Calculation

Molarity is a measure of concentration defined as moles of solute per liter of solution. To prepare a specific volume of an isotonic solution, one must calculate the required mass of solute (in this case, KCl) using its molar mass and the desired molarity. This involves converting the volume of the solution to liters and applying the formula: mass = molarity × volume × molar mass.
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