Percent weight/volume (w/v) is a standard way to express the concentration of a solute in a liquid solution. It represents the mass of solute (in grams) that is dissolved in 100 milliliters of the entire solution. This metric is especially useful when the solute is a solid and the solvent is a liquid, allowing researchers and professionals to compare concentrations across different preparations.

What You’ll Need

• Pen or pencil
• Paper
• Analytical balance or kitchen scale
• Calculator (optional but handy)

Step‑by‑Step Calculation

1. Measure the solute. Weigh the amount of solute you intend to dissolve, recording the mass in grams.
2. Determine total volume. After the solute is fully dissolved, measure the total volume of the solution in milliliters.
3. Compute the ratio. Divide the solute mass (grams) by the solution volume (mL). This yields a w/v value in grams per milliliter.
4. Convert to percent. Multiply the result by 100 to express the concentration as a percent weight/volume.

TL;DR

Use grams for the solute and milliliters for the solution. The formula is: % w/v = (grams solute ÷ mL solution) × 100.

References

• Spencer L. Seager & Michael R. Slabaugh. Chemistry for Today: General, Organic, and Biochemistry, 2005.