A chemist has a solution that is 25% acid. She wants to dilute it to a 15% acid solution by adding water. If she starts with 40 liters of the original solution, how many liters of water should she add?

Sun, 03 May 2026 06:33:25 +0000

**A Chemist Has a 25% Acid Solution. She Wants to Dilute It to 15%. How Much Water Should She Add?**
In labs, home workshops, and industrial settings, precise chemical mixing drives innovation—take, for example, a chemist with a 25% acid solution aiming to reduce its concentration to 15% by diluting with water. This common calculation isn’t just academic—it’s a practical challenge shaping freshwater use, safety protocols, and quality control across regulated industries. As sustainability and precision grow in focus, solutions balancing effectiveness and precision are in high demand. This reader’s question captures that precision: how much water to add to safely dilute 40 liters of a 25% acid solution to 15%? The growing conversation around effective resource dilution reflects broader awareness of chemical management. From small-scale research to manufacturing processes, accurate dilution ensures product integrity and regulatory compliance. With water conservation gaining urgency, knowing how much to dilute—without waste or risk—is increasingly relevant. **How A Chemist Has a Solution That Is 25% Acid. She Wants to Dilute It to a 15% Acid Solution. If She Starts With 40 Liters of the Original Solution, How Many Liters of Water Should She Add? Actually Works**
When a chemist starts with 40 liters of a solution that is 25% acid, planning to dilute it to 15% requires a clear, mathematically grounded approach. The goal is to increase the total volume so the acid concentration decreases—this hinges on preserving the total amount of pure acid while expanding the mixture. Because acid content equates to volume fraction times concentration, adjusting water input directly affects the final percentage. Understanding this transformation ensures accurate, safe dilution. **Why A Chemist Has a Solution That Is 25% Acid. She Wants to Dilute It to a 15% Acid Solution by Adding Water: Actually Works**
Diluting concentrated acid is a standard practice across scientific and industrial environments. Whether preparing reagents, cleaning agents, or educational demonstrations, precise dilution maintains safety and function. The 25% acid solution contains 10 liters of pure acid (25% of 40 liters), and the chemist’s task is to dilute this to exactly 15% acid—achievable purely through volume adjustment. This question isn’t technical fluff; it’s a fundamental calculation central to responsible chemical handling and process optimization.