The maximum allowable concentration of lead in drinking water is 9.0 ppb. (a) Calculate the molarity of lead in a 9.0-ppb solution.

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Understand that 'ppb' stands for 'parts per billion', which means 9.0 grams of lead per 1 billion grams of solution.

Convert the mass of lead from grams to moles using the molar mass of lead (Pb), which is approximately 207.2 g/mol. Use the formula: \( \text{moles of Pb} = \frac{\text{mass of Pb in grams}}{\text{molar mass of Pb}} \).

Assume the density of the solution is similar to that of water, approximately 1 g/mL, to convert the mass of the solution to volume. Since 1 billion grams is equivalent to 1 million liters, use this volume for the solution.

Calculate the molarity of the lead solution using the formula: \( \text{Molarity (M)} = \frac{\text{moles of solute}}{\text{liters of solution}} \).

Substitute the values obtained from the previous steps into the molarity formula to find the molarity of lead in the solution.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Parts Per Billion (ppb)

Parts per billion (ppb) is a unit of measurement used to describe the concentration of a substance in a solution. It indicates how many parts of a substance are present in one billion parts of the total solution. In the context of drinking water, a concentration of 9.0 ppb means there are 9 micrograms of lead in every liter of water.

Molarity

Molarity is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is expressed in moles per liter (mol/L). To calculate molarity, one must know the mass of the solute, its molar mass, and the volume of the solution in liters. This concept is essential for converting ppb to molarity.

Molar Mass of Lead

The molar mass of lead (Pb) is approximately 207.2 g/mol. This value is crucial for converting the mass of lead in a solution (in grams) to moles, which is necessary for calculating molarity. Knowing the molar mass allows for accurate conversions between mass and the number of moles, facilitating the determination of concentration in chemical solutions.

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