How could you determine the concentration of a specific molecule, ion or active ingredient in a household item?

Household items (found in everyday life)

Organic chemicals

Vinegar

Cleaning agents

Handsoap

Detergent

Medicines

Methods of determining concentration

Titration

No variables; not an experiment, rather research and justification

Spectrophotometry

Conductivity measurements

Chromatography (specifically High Performance Liquid Chromatography)

Most common way of determining concentration; a titrate, the solution of known solute concentration, is added to the analyte, a solution made of an acid and base, until the solutions react. The volume of titrate needed for the solutions to complete the reaction/meet the equivalent point, and the total amount of analyte can be used to find the analyte's concentration

Only usable for acid-base solutions

Formula: %acid = (N x V x Equivalent weight) x 100 / (W x 100)

Where N is concentration of acid in titrate, V is volume of titrate, W is mass of analyte, equivalent weight is the weight of the acid when the equivalent point is met

Amount of light absorbed by a solution is directly proportional to its concentration, which can be calculated with other factors

Only usable if solvent is ionic

Evaporation

Another separation technique

If solvent is water and solute is a dissolvable solid, the solution of a known mass can be heated until the water boils and evaporates. The remaining solute can be weighed and concentration can be calculated

Distillation

Only usable if solvent and solute are both liquid, and if boiling points are known

The solution is heated until the part with the lowest boiling point is boiling. The vapor will condense and coalesce in a separate vial. Once there is no more of the lower boiling point liquid in the original solution, the parts can be weighed to find concentration

The solution's ability to carry an electrical current allows for the amount of ions to be measured, therefore allowing for the ionic substance's concentration to be measured

Active ingredient

Molecule

Ion

Concentration formulas

"chemical compounds in medicines that have an effect on the body"

An atom or group of atoms with charges that aren't neutral (positive or negative)

Two ore more atoms of any elements that are chemically bonded

Dymadon pain and fever relief

Paracetamol (50mg/mL)

Vicks cough syrup

Contains holy basil, liquorice, tumeric, ginger, tailed pepper, aloe vera, menthol, sucrose, sodium benzoate, hydroxybenzoates, sorbic acid

Difflam sore throat spray

Benzydamine (510μg/spray)

Panadol rapid soluble pain relief

Paracetamol (500mg)

C = n/v

Where C is concentration (mol/L), n is the number of moles (mol), and v is volume (L)

Acetic acid

Sodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide