Problema Solution

In your chemistry class you have a bottle of 5% boric acid solution(x) and a bottle of 2% boric acid solution(y) . You need 60 milliliters of a 3% boric acid solution for the experiment that you are doing. How much of the 5% and the 2% must you mix together to get a 3% solution?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


x = ml of 5% boric acid solution needed for the mix

y = ml of 2% boric acid solution needed for the mix


the mix is 60 milliliters of a 3% boric acid solution thus


x + y = 60


the boric acid in x + the boric acid in y = 3% of 60


0.05x + 0.02y = 0.03*60


0.05x + 0.02y = 1.8 multiply both sides by 100


5x + 2y = 180


by solving the system of equations


x + y = 60

5x + 2y = 180


we find


x = 20 ml


y = 40 ml


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we must mix 20 ml of the 5% and 40 ml of the 2% boric acid solution to obtain 3% solution.