Answer to Question #342010 in General Chemistry for Emilia

Question

Whatever the solvent used, the solution should be topped-up to its final volume using water. True or False?

Answer 1

It is false. By the chemical composition, you may have samples with different types of solvents to perform the experiments. Imagine you have a sample of a compound dissolved in olive oil. Topping it up with water will lead to a sample with two unmixing components. Another example is the dissolution of a compound in a highly concentrated acid used as a solvent. For your experiment, you might need a sample with a precise concentration of acid and the addition of water will lead to the dissolution of your sample. So, not all the solutions should be topped-up to their final volume by water.