Mass Percentage (w/w)
Mass percentage, often denoted as (w/w), refers to the mass of a component in a solution relative to the total mass of the solution expressed as a percentage. It plays a vital role as a method of expressing solution concentration, especially in industrial applications where precision is paramount.
Formula
The formula for calculating mass percentage is:
$$\text{Mass % of a component} = \frac{\text{Mass of the component in the solution}}{\text{Total mass of the solution}} \times 100$$
Example Calculation
For instance, in a solution with 10 g of glucose dissolved in 90 g of water:
- Total mass of the solution = 10 g + 90 g = 100 g
- Mass % of glucose = (10 g / 100 g) × 100 = 10%
Importance
Mass percentage is particularly useful in contexts like pharmaceuticals, where the exact concentration of active ingredients is crucial for effectiveness and safety. It allows for easy comparisons between different solutions and is a standard measurement in chemical industries.