1.

Define the following:

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

mass,
volume,
amount,
concentration,
dilution.

Give examples of typical units used to describe each of the above.

Answer:
The units of measurement in current use are those of the Systeme International
dUnites (SI), 1960.
a) Mass can be defined as a measure of how much matter is in an object. Mass is
measured in kilogrammes (kg).
b) A measurement of the amount of space contained within a three-dimensional
shape. Volumes in the laboratory are measured in litres or parts of a litre; litre
is not an SI Unit but a metric unit. The SI unit for volume is cubic metres
(m3).
c) The amount of a substance that contains as many elementary units as there are
atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12. The SI unit for amount of substance is moles
(mol).
d) The concentration of a solution is expressed as the amount of solute in a given
volume of liquid
Concentration =
Number of moles
Volume of solvent (L)
=

mol/L

We can express concentration as mass per volume e.g. 20 grams/ litre. We can
also express concentration in terms of moles per litre. There are three different
ways of writing this, either 0.1 moles/litre or 0.1 molL-1 or 0.1M. The M
stands for molar.
e) Process of reducing the concentration of a solute in solution, usually simply by
mixing with more solvent.
You can calculate the concentration of a solution following a dilution by
applying this equation:
MiVi = MfVf
Where M is molarity, V is volume, and the subscripts i and f refer to the initial
and final values.
Atif Shahzad

W1149330

Example:
How many millilitres of 5.5 M NaOH are needed to prepare 300 mL of 1.2 M
NaOH?
Solution:
5.5 M x V1 = 1.2 M x 0.3 L
V1 = 1.2 M x 0.3 L / 5.5 M
V1 = 0.065 L
V1 = 65 mL
So, to prepare the 1.2 M NaOH solution, you pour 65 mL of 5.5 M NaOH into
your container and add water to get 300 mL final volume.
2.

Name and define the correct SI unit for each of the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)

amount,
volume,
time,
enzyme activity.

Answer:
a) The SI unit for amount of substance is moles (mol). A mole is defined as the
amount of substance that contains as many elementary particles (atoms, ions,
molecules) as there are in 12g of carbon-12 atoms.
b) The SI unit for volume is cubic metres (m3). It is defined as a volume that is
made by a cube that is 1 meter on each side. It is equal to 1000 (one thousand)
litres.
c) The second is the basic unit of time. The time taken for 9,192,631,770 periods
of vibration of the caesium-133atom to occur.
d) The SI unit is the katal and is used to measure total units of activity in a given
volume of solution.
1 katal = 1 mol s1
Katal, however is an excessively large unit. A more practical and commonly
used value is 1 enzyme unit (U) = 1 mol min1. 1 U corresponds to
16.67 nanokatals.
3. Writing the answers in both decimal form and in standard form:
a) Express 8.4 mmol as (i) mol (ii) nmol and (iii) mol
b) Express 27.6 L as (i) mL and (ii) litres
Answer:
a) 8.4 mmol
Atif Shahzad

W1149330

i) 8.4mmol = 8.4mmol x 1/10^-6 mol/mmol

8.4mmol = 8.4x10^3 mol
or
= 8400 mol
ii) 8.4mmol = 8.4mmol x 1/10^-9 nmol/mmol
8.4mmol = 8.4x10^6nmol
or
= 8400000nmol
iii) 8.4mmol = 8.4mmol x 10^-3mol/mmol
8.4mmol = 8.4x10^-3mol
or
= 0.0084mol
b) 27.6 L
i) 27.6 L = 27.6L x 10^-3mL/L
27.6L = 27.6x10^-3mL
or
0.0276mL
ii) 27.6 L = 27.6L x 10^-6L/L
27.6 L = 27.6x10^-6L
or
= 0.0000276L
4

A stock solution of 50 mmol/L urea is provided.

a) Please complete the following table stating the volumes of stock
solution and water required to make up the new standards. Show an
example of one of your calculations below.

Concentration
Volume of stock
standard (mL)
Volume of water
(mL)
Total volume (mL)

0 mmol/L 5 mmol/L 15
mmol/L

20
mmol/L

35
mmol/L

b) What will the final concentration of urea be if 0.05 mL of the stock

solution is mixed with 4.95 mL of water?

Atif Shahzad

W1149330

c) Reporting your answer to 3 significant figures, what will the final

concentration of urea be if 1.25 mL of stock solution is mixed with
2.50 mL water?
Answers:
a)
Concentration
Volume of stock
standard (mL)
Volume of water
(mL)
Total volume (mL)

0 mmol/L 5 mmol/L 15
mmol/L
0
0.5
1.5

20
mmol/L
2

35
mmol/L
3.5

4.5

3.5

1.5

To calculate volume of 5mmol/L stock solution required to make 5mL of final

volume, I have used the following equation;
Where i=initial volume/concentration
f=final volume/concentration
MiVi=MfVf
50mmol/L x Vi= 5mmol/L x 5mL
Vi= 5mmol/L x 5mL/50mmol/L
Vi= 0.5mL = Volume of stock standard required
Volume of water (mL) = Total volume (mL) - Volume of stock standard (mL)
Volume of water (mL) = 5mL-0.5mL
Volume of water (mL) = 4.5mL
b)

What will the final concentration of urea be if 0.05 mL of the stock solution is
mixed with 4.95 mL of water?
Using the equation
MiVi=MfVf
50mmol/L x 0.05mL = Mf x 4.95 mL
Mf= 50mmol/L x 0.05mL/4.95mL
Mf= 0.05mmol/L
Final concentration of urea = 0.05mmol/L

c)

Reporting your answer to 3 significant figures, what will the final

concentration of urea be if 1.25 mL of stock solution is mixed with 2.50 mL
water?

Atif Shahzad

W1149330

Using the equation

MiVi=MfVf
50mmol/L x 1.25mL = Mf x 2.50 mL
Mf= 50mmol/L x 1.25mL/2.50mL
Mf= 25mmol/L
Final concentration of urea = 25mmol/L or 250 x 10^-1 mmol/L
5.

Convert 0.2825 g/L creatinine solution to molar, millimolar and

micromolar concentrations. (creatinine has the molecular formula
C 4 H 7 N 3 O)

Answer:
Molar Mass of Creatinine= 113.12
Amount (in moles) = Amount (in g) / Molar Mass (g.mol-1)
= 0.2825g / 113.12 g.mol-1
= 0.0025 mol
Concentration (M) = Amount (in mol) / Volume (in L)
= 0.0025mol/1L
Concentration (M) = 0.0025M
Or in millimolar
Concentration (M) = 0.0025M x 10^3mM/M
= 2.5mM
or in micromolar
Concentration (M) = 0.0025M x 10^6M/M
= 2500M or 2.5 x 10^3M
6.

A urine sample that has tested positive for blood using a dipstick
requires red and white blood cell counts to be undertaken. The number
of cells is counted in a three separate haemocytometer grids of
dimensions 1 mm x 0.2 mm x 0.4 mm. Calculate the number of red and
white blood cells per microlitre, per millilitre and per litre of the patient
sample from the following grid counts.
a) Red blood cell counts: 23, 19, 25
b) White blood cell counts: 8, 9, 11

Atif Shahzad

W1149330

Answer:
a) Red Cell Counts
i.
ii.

iii.
iv.

v.
vi.

vii.
viii.

Calculate average of the counts (23+19+25)/3 = 22.33

The volume of the square of the counting chamber in which the cells
were counted is 1x0.2x0.4= 0.08mm3
Therefore, on average 22.33 cells were recorded in 0.08mm3
Converting this to cells per 1mm 3 is done by following calculation:
22.33/0.08 = 279.123 in 1 mm3
Since we know there are 1000mm3 in 1mL
Red cell count per millilitre therefore is 279.123 x 103 per mL or 2.79 x
105 mL-1
Red cell count per litre is 279.123x103mL x 1/1000mL/L or 279.123L-1
Red cell count per microlitre is 279.123L-1 x 106L/L or 279123000L1

Or 2.79 x 108L-1
b) White Cell Counts
ix.
x.

xi.
xii.

xiii.
xiv.

xv.
xvi.

Calculate average of the counts (8+9+11)/3 = 9.33

The volume of the square of the counting chamber in which the cells
were counted is 1x0.2x0.4= 0.08mm3
Therefore, on average 9.33 cells were recorded in 0.08mm3
Converting this to cells per 1mm 3 is done by following calculation:
9.33/0.08 = 116.625 in 1 mm3
Since we know there are 1000mm3 in 1mL
Red cell count per millilitre therefore is 116.625 x 103 per mL or 1.17 x
105 mL-1
Red cell count per litre is 116.625x103mL x 1/1000mL/L or 116.625L-1
Red cell count per microlitre is 116.625L-1 x 106L/L or 116625000L1

Or 1.16 x 108L-1
7.

An audit is undertaken of the time of arrival of GP patient samples to

determine how well this matches with laboratory staffing and opening
hours. The following table shows the number of specimens received
from 6 separate GP surgeries (A F) throughout the day.

GP
Surgery
A
B
C
D
E
F
Atif Shahzad

Time
10:00
12
0
28
0
5
10

11:30
17
6
14
0
10
12

12:30
26
8
17
44
26
16

13:30
35
5
21
38
30
17

15:00
9
11
24
0
44
13

17:00
0
15
21
0
20
5
W1149330

a) What data is missing from the above?

b) What limits the usefulness of the information above?
c) Plot a line graph to represent the above data using Microsoft Excel,
ensure full labelling.
d) Plot a bar chart of the mean number of samples from each GP surgery
using Microsoft Excel.
Answer:
a) What data is missing from the above?
There is no data regarding number of staff during the laboratory working
hours.
b) What limits the usefulness of the information above?
Because there is no data regarding staffing levels in the laboratory during its
working hours, the above data limits its usefulness to address the peak times in
the laboratory.
c) Plot a line graph to represent the above data using Microsoft Excel, ensure full
labelling.

d) Plot a bar chart of the mean number of samples from each GP surgery using
Microsoft Excel.

Atif Shahzad

W1149330

Atif Shahzad

W1149330