# How many grams of solute are present in a "1500-g" sample of a 3.62% by mass solution of sodium hypochlorite?

Mar 23, 2017

$\text{54 g NaClO}$

#### Explanation:

A solution's percent concentration by mass is a measure of the number of grams of solute present for every $\text{100 g}$ of solution.

In your case, a solution that is 3.62% by mass sodium hypochlorite will contain $\text{3.62 g}$ of sodium hypochlorite, the solute, for every $\text{100 g}$ of solution.

As you know, solutions are homogeneous mixtures, which implies that they have the same composition throughout. This allows you to use the percent concentration by mass as a conversion factor to help you find the number of grams of solute present in '1500 g" of solution.

More specifically, you will have

$1500 \textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{\text{g solution"))) * "3.62 g NaClO"/(100color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g solution")))) = color(darkgreen)(ul(color(black)("54 g NaClO}}}}$

The answer must be rounded to two sig figs, the number of sig figs you have for the mass of the solution.