Mass Percent Calculator for a Solution

What is Mass Percent?

Mass percent, also known as mass percent composition or weight percent (w/w), is the ratio of the mass of a solute to the total mass of the solution, expressed as a percentage:

\[ \text{Mass Percent} = \left( \frac{\text{Mass of Solute}}{\text{Mass of Solution}} \right) \times 100 \]

This concept is widely used in chemistry, biology, and material sciences to determine the concentration of a substance in a mixture or solution.

How to Calculate Mass Percent

To calculate mass percent, follow these steps:

Identify the mass of the solute (the dissolved substance).
Determine the total mass of the solution (solute + solvent).
Apply the mass percent formula to find the percentage.

Example Calculation

Example 1

Suppose you dissolve 10 g of salt (NaCl) in 90 g of water. The total mass of the solution is:

\[ \text{Mass of Solution} = 10 \text{ g} + 90 \text{ g} = 100 \text{ g} \]

Now, calculate mass percent:

\[ \text{Mass Percent} = \left( \frac{10}{100} \right) \times 100 = 10\% \]

This means the salt solution is 10% NaCl by mass.

Example 2

A solution contains 5 g of sugar in 45 g of water. The mass percent of sugar is:

\[ \left( \frac{5}{(5+45)} \right) \times 100 = 10\% \]

Applications of Mass Percent

Chemistry & Solutions: Used to prepare precise concentrations in labs.
Pharmaceuticals: Ensures correct dosages in liquid medicines.
Food Science: Determines ingredient proportions in products.
Environmental Science: Analyzes pollutants in water and air.

Use the Mass Percent Calculator

Enter any two values (mass of solute, mass of solution, or mass percent), and the calculator will automatically compute the missing value. The tool also supports multiple units, including grams, milligrams, kilograms, ounces, and pounds, with automatic conversions.