Determine the volume percent of a solution made by dissolving: (a) \(37.5 \mathrm{~mL}\) of butanol in enough ethanol to make \(275 \mathrm{~mL}\) of solution (b) \(4.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of methanol in enough water to make \(25.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of solution (c) \(45.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of isoamyl alcohol in enough acetone to make \(750 . \mathrm{mL}\) of solution

Understanding the concentration of a solution is crucial when dealing with chemical solutions in fields such as chemistry, biology, pharmacy, and environmental science. Concentration refers to the amount of a substance, known as the solute, that is contained in a certain volume of solvent. The solvent is the component of the solution that dissolves the solute. There are various ways to express concentration, such as molarity, molality, and normality, but one of the simplest methods is volume percent.

The volume percent is especially useful when the solution's components are measured by volume, which is common for liquids. It is an intuitive way to describe how much solute is present compared to the overall solution. For instance, a concentration of 5% (v/v) means that there are 5 milliliters of solute for every 100 milliliters of solution. This simplicity allows for quick calculations and an easy understanding of solution strength.

The volume percent formula is an essential tool for computing the concentration of a solution in a way that is straightforward and easy to visualize. The formula is given by:

\[\begin{equation}v/v\text{%} = \bigg(\frac{v_{\text{solute}}}{v_{\text{solution}}}\bigg) \times 100\end{equation}\]

where:

• \(v_{\text{solute}}\) represents the volume of the solute, and
• \(v_{\text{solution}}\) is the total volume of the solution, which includes both the solute and the solvent.

By multiplying the result by 100, you convert the ratio into a percentage, which tells you how many parts of solute are in every hundred parts of the solution. To ensure the accuracy of this calculation, remember to use the same volume units (such as milliliters or liters) for both the solute and the solution.

The concept of solute and solvent is foundational to understanding solutions in chemistry. A solute is a substance that is dissolved by the solvent to create a solution. Common examples of solutes include salts, sugars, and acids, which can dissolve in various solvents.

The solvent, on the other hand, is the component that dissolves the solute. It is typically present in a larger amount compared to the solute. Water is known as the 'universal solvent' because many substances dissolve in it, but other liquids such as ethanol, acetone, and hexane can also act as solvents depending on the solute and the desired application.
The interaction between solute and solvent at the molecular level defines the strength and properties of the solution. A solute's ability to dissolve in a particular solvent depends on factors like temperature, pressure, and the nature of both the solute and solvent molecules. Recognizing the roles of solutes and solvents can help you predict how substances will mix and what the characteristics of the resulting mixture will be.