Understanding Molarity

Molarity (M) is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.

Formula:

Molarity (M) = Moles of Solute / Liters of Solution

Calculation:

1. Identify the solute and solvent:

* Solute: Sodium chloride (NaCl)

* Solvent: Water (H₂O)

2. Given information:

* Moles of NaCl: 2.3 moles

* Volume of water: 0.45 liters

3. Important Note: The volume of water is NOT the same as the volume of the solution. When you dissolve NaCl in water, the total volume of the solution will be slightly greater than the volume of the water alone. However, for this calculation, we'll assume the volume of water is approximately equal to the volume of the solution.

4. Apply the formula:

Molarity (M) = 2.3 moles / 0.45 liters

Molarity (M) ≈ 5.11 M

Answer: The molarity of the solution is approximately 5.11 M.