Sulfuric acid is used in the synthesis and processing of many chemicals and metals, and it is the electrolyte in common lead-acid batteries. It is used in various strengths, ranging from concentrated (100%) to dilute; so being able to estimate its concentration from a simple measurement of specific gravity is quite useful.

Suppose you prepare a solution that is 23.0 wt% H2SO4 in water and intend to confirm the concentration by comparing the specific gravity of the solution to that available from the literature. To 77.0 g of water you carefully add 23.0 g of H2SO4 and allow the resulting mixture to equilibrate at 20°C.

(You know that rapidly adding the acid to water or water to concentrated acid can both lead to dangerous splatters of liquid.) From the component specific gravities, estimate the volumes of water and sulfuric acid that have been blended.

Vwater = ___ mL

Vsulfuric acid = ___ mL

Estimate the density of the 23.0 wt% sulfuric acid assuming that the volumes are additive. ___ g/mL

The value for 23.0 wt% sulfuric acid at 20°C is listed as 1.1626.

Estimate the volume of the 23.0 wt% sulfuric acid solution prepared as described by the above process.
___ mL

Estimate the volume of 40.0 wt% sulfuric acid (SG = 1.2991 at 25°C) that must be added to the 100.0 g of the 23.0-wt% solution to produce a solution that is 35.0 wt% sulfuric acid?
___ mL