Solution Calculator – Calculate Volume from Molarity, Mass & Solute
Calculate solution volume from molarity, mass, and solute values accurately for chemistry calculations. Our free solution calculator handles molarity, mass-based solutions, and dilutions with step-by-step explanations. Perfect for students, researchers, and lab professionals.
Molarity Formula: M = n / V, where M is molarity (mol/L), n is moles of solute, and V is volume of solution. This calculator helps you find any variable when you know the other two.
mol/L
mol
Volume of solution
Volume
1 L = 1000 mL = 1,000,000 µL
1 mL = 0.001 L = 1000 µL
Mass
1 kg = 1000 g = 1,000,000 mg
1 g = 0.001 kg = 1000 mg
Concentration
1 M = 1000 mM = 1,000,000 µM
1 mM = 0.001 M = 1000 µM
Always add solute to solvent, not vice versa
Use appropriate personal protective equipment
Verify calculations before preparing solutions
A chemical solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances where a solute is uniformly distributed throughout a solvent at the molecular level. Understanding solutions is fundamental to chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical research, and laboratory work across scientific disciplines.
Solute: The Dissolved Substance
- ✓The substance being dissolved in the solvent
- ✓Usually present in smaller quantity compared to solvent
- ✓Can be solid (salt), liquid (acetic acid), or gas (carbon dioxide)
- ✓Examples: sodium chloride, glucose, hydrochloric acid
Solvent: The Dissolving Medium
- ✓The substance that dissolves the solute
- ✓Usually present in larger quantity (the medium)
- ✓Most commonly water (aqueous solutions)
- ✓Examples: water, ethanol, acetone, dichloromethane
Why Concentration Calculation Matters in Scientific Work
Concentration expresses precisely how much solute is present in a given amount of solution. Accurate concentration calculation is absolutely critical for:
Predictable reaction rates and yields
Cell culture and enzyme kinetics
Drug formulation and dosing accuracy
Manufacturing and quality control
Teaching fundamental chemistry principles
Handling hazardous materials safely
Calculating solution volume requires understanding the mathematical relationship between mass, molarity, moles, and volume. Our solution calculator simplifies these calculations while teaching you the underlying chemical principles for accurate laboratory work.
📊 Key Variables in Solution Calculations
Every solution calculation involves these four essential variables:
| Variable | Symbol | Common Units | Scientific Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molarity | M | mol/L, M, mM, µM | Moles of solute per liter of solution |
| Moles | n | mol, mmol, µmol | Amount of substance (6.022×10²³ particles) |
| Volume | V | L, mL, µL | Amount of space solution occupies |
| Mass | m | g, mg, kg | Weight of solute measured on balance |
| Molar Mass | MM | g/mol | Mass of one mole of substance |
When Would You Need to Calculate Solution Volume?
Laboratory Preparation
- •Preparing standard solutions from solid compounds
- •Determining solvent quantities needed for experiments
- •Making buffer solutions at specific pH and concentration
Industrial Applications
- •Scaling up chemical processes from lab to production
- •Quality control testing of manufactured solutions
- •Cost calculation for large-scale solution preparation
🔬 Practical Example: Preparing 500 mL of 0.1 M NaCl Solution
Given: Molar mass of NaCl = 58.44 g/mol, Desired concentration = 0.1 M, Desired volume = 500 mL = 0.5 L
Step 1: Calculate moles needed: n = M × V = 0.1 mol/L × 0.5 L = 0.05 mol
Step 2: Calculate mass needed: mass = n × MM = 0.05 mol × 58.44 g/mol = 2.922 g
Procedure: Weigh 2.922 g NaCl, dissolve in ~400 mL water, then dilute to exactly 500 mL mark.
Master these fundamental chemical formulas to solve any solution calculation problem accurately. Each formula represents a key relationship in solution chemistry that our calculator automatically applies for you.
Formula 1: Molarity Definition (Fundamental Relationship)
M = n ÷ V
M = Molarity
mol/L or M
n = Moles
mol (amount of substance)
V = Volume
L (solution volume)
Rearrangements: V = n ÷ M (calculate volume) | n = M × V (calculate moles)
Formula 2: Mass to Moles Conversion (Bridge Formula)
n = mass ÷ MM
n = Moles
mol
mass = Mass
g (weighed amount)
MM = Molar Mass
g/mol (from periodic table)
Key insight: This formula connects the tangible (mass you can weigh) to the chemical (moles for reactions).
Formula 3: Combined Mass-Volume Relationship (Most Practical)
V = mass ÷ (M × MM)
This combined formula allows direct volume calculation from mass without intermediate mole calculation.
• Use when you know: mass available, desired concentration, and compound's molar mass
• Result: Volume of solution you can prepare
• Common application: "How much 0.1 M solution can I make with 5 g of compound?"
Formula 4: Dilution Principle (C₁V₁ = C₂V₂)
C₁V₁ = C₂V₂
C₁ = Initial
Stock concentration
V₁ = Initial
Stock volume used
C₂ = Final
Diluted concentration
V₂ = Final
Total volume after dilution
Most common rearrangement: V₁ = (C₂ × V₂) ÷ C₁ (calculates how much stock to use for dilution)
Molarity (M) is the standard unit for expressing concentration in chemistry, representing moles of solute per liter of solution. This section explains how to calculate solution volume from molarity values—one of the most common tasks in laboratory work.
🧪 Understanding Molarity in Practical Terms
What Molarity Means:
- •1 M = 1 mole of solute per liter of solution
- •Temperature dependent (volume changes with temperature)
- •Preferred for volumetric work in chemistry
Common Molarity Ranges:
- •Stock solutions: 1-10 M (concentrated for storage)
- •Working solutions: 0.01-1 M (ready-to-use)
- •Biological assays: 1 µM - 1 mM (very dilute)
Step-by-Step: Calculating Volume from Molarity
Scenario: Preparing 250 mL of 0.5 M NaOH Solution
Known values: Molar mass NaOH = 40.00 g/mol, Desired concentration = 0.5 M, Desired volume = 250 mL = 0.25 L
Calculate moles needed: n = M × V = 0.5 mol/L × 0.25 L = 0.125 mol NaOH
Calculate mass needed: mass = n × MM = 0.125 mol × 40.00 g/mol = 5.00 g NaOH
Procedure: Weigh 5.00 g NaOH pellets, dissolve in ~200 mL distilled water (CAUTION: exothermic!), cool, then dilute to exactly 250 mL mark in volumetric flask.
Scenario: What volume of 2 M HCl contains 0.1 moles?
Known values: M = 2 M, n = 0.1 mol
Apply formula: V = n ÷ M = 0.1 mol ÷ 2 mol/L = 0.05 L
Convert units: 0.05 L = 50 mL
Answer: 50 mL of 2 M HCl solution contains exactly 0.1 moles of HCl.
📈 Molarity vs. Other Concentration Units
| Unit | Definition | When Used | Temperature Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molarity (M) | mol solute / L solution | General chemistry, titrations | Changes with temperature |
| Molality (m) | mol solute / kg solvent | Colligative properties, precise work | Temperature independent |
| Mass % | (g solute / g solution) × 100% | Industrial, commercial products | Temperature independent |
| Normality (N) | equiv solute / L solution | Acid-base, redox reactions | Changes with temperature |
Whether you're a student learning chemistry, a researcher preparing experiments, or a lab technician ensuring accuracy, our solution calculator provides the precision and educational value you need.
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