A 120 milliliter (mL) solution contains a mixture of water and acid. The acid makes up 40% of the solution. How many mL of water make up the solution?

Rationale

72 mL of the solution is made up of water.

The question tells us that the total solution is 120 mL and that acid makes up 40% of the solution. Therefore, if we want to find out how much of the solution is water, we need to subtract the amount of acid from the total solution.

A (40 mL) YOUR ANSWER

This would be the amount of acid in the solution, not the amount of water. This is calculated by taking 40% of the total volume (120 mL), which gives 48 mL. This answer confuses the percentage of the solution that is acid with the volume of water in the solution.

B (60 mL) YOUR ANSWER

This choice would be correct if the solution were 50% acid and 50% water. However, the question clearly states that the solution is 40% acid, which means it is 60% water. Therefore, 60% of the total 120 mL solution equals 72 mL of water, not 60 mL.

C (72 mL) CORRECT

This is the correct answer. It is calculated by determining what volume makes up 60% of the solution. Since the solution is 40% acid, the remaining 60% is water. 60% of 120 mL equals 72 mL.

D (48 mL) YOUR ANSWER

This is the volume of acid in the solution, not the amount of water. It is calculated by determining what volume makes up 40% of the solution. Since the solution is 40% acid, 40% of 120 mL equals 48 mL.

Conclusion

When dealing with percentages in a solution, it's important to understand that the percentage refers to the volume of the component in relation to the total volume of the solution. Therefore, if a solution is 40% acid, the remaining 60% is water. In this case, 60% of the total 120 mL solution equals 72 mL of water, not 60 mL or any other volume. The other choices confuse the volume of acid with the volume of water or misinterpret the percentages.

A 120 milliliter (mL) solution contains a mixture of water and acid. The acid makes up 40% of the solution. How many mL of water make up the solution?

72 mL of the solution is made up of water.

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