The #1 Math Equation you need to work as a Chemist

Back when I was doing job interviews, there were regular exams.

On every exam was a question that used this equation.

Every day in the lab, I use this concept and I call it my "Master Equation."

IV*IC=FV*FC

IV= Initial Volume

IC= Initial Concentration

FV= Final Volume

FC= Final Concentration

Some words of advice:

• IV and FV need to be in the same units, for example milliliters, cups, grams... ect.
• IC and FC also need to be in the same units, for example parts per million, micrograms per gram... ect.

A chemist uses this equation any time they make a solution.

As an example: I have a 100 parts per million solution and I want to make a 25 parts per million solution. In order to perform the experiment I need 10 milliliters of the 25 parts per million solution.

In this situation, you need to know how much of the 100 parts per million solution to dilute up to 10 milliliters to make a 25 parts per million solution.

Initial Volume= unknown (x)

Initial Concentration= 100 parts per million

Final Volume= 10 milliliters

Final Concentration= 25 parts per million

Your equation would look like:

x*100=25*10

multiplying everything gives:

100x=250

Then divide both sides by 100:

x=2.5

In order to make your 25 parts per million solution, you need to take 2.5 milliliters of the 100 parts per million solution and dilute it to 10  milliliters.

Learning how to apply this equation means that you can work in a wet lab with relative ease.