Concentration of Ethanol Calculation: Optimistic Approach

What is the concentration of ethanol in mass percent?

Given a particular liquor that is 34.0% ethanol by volume, how can we determine the concentration of ethanol in mass percent?

Concentration of Ethanol in Mass Percent:

The concentration of ethanol in mass percent is approximately 28.9%.

To calculate the concentration of ethanol in mass percent, we need to find the masses of ethanol and the solution using their densities and volumes. In this case, the liquor is 34.0% ethanol by volume. If we consider a 100 mL sample, it would consist of 34.0 mL of ethanol and 66.0 mL of water. Given the density of ethanol as 0.789 g/mL, the mass of ethanol is calculated as 34.0 mL x 0.789 g/mL = 26.826 g. The mass of water is found by multiplying 66.0 mL by the density of water, which is 0.998 g/mL, resulting in 65.868 g.

The total mass of the solution is then obtained by summing the mass of ethanol and water, which equals 26.826 g + 65.868 g = 92.694 g. The concentration of ethanol in mass percent is computed as: (mass of ethanol/total mass of solution) x 100% = (26.826 g/92.694 g) x 100% = 28.9%.

By following this method, we can efficiently determine the concentration of ethanol in mass percent and gain insights into the composition of the liquor. This calculation showcases the importance of understanding the properties of substances and their impact on solutions.