Normality

We have previously talked about molarity as a method for expressing

concentration. The second expression used to describe concentration of a
solution is the normality. Normality can be defined as the number of
equivalents of solute dissolved in 1 L of solution. Therefore, it is
important for us to define what we mean by the number of equivalents, as
well as the equivalent weight of a substance as a parallel term to formula
weight.

An equivalent is defined as the weight of substance giving an Avog

number of reacting units. Reacting units are either protons (in acid base
reactions) or electrons (in oxidation reduction reactions). For example,
HCl has one reacting unit (H+) when reacting with a base like NaOH but
sulfuric acid has two reacting units (two protons) when reacting
completely with a base. Therefore, we say that the equivalent weight of
HCl is equal to its formula weight and the equivalent weight of sulfuric
acid is one half its formula weight. In the reaction where Mn(VII), in
KMnO4, is reduced to Mn(II) five electrons are involved and the
equivalent weight of KMnO4 is equal to its formula weight divided by 5.

Number of equivalents = Normality x VL = (eq/L) x L

Number of milliequivalents = Normality x VmL = (meq/mL) x mL

Also, number of equivalents = wt(g)/equivalent weight (g/eq)

Or, number of milliequivalents = wt(mg)/equivalent weight (mg/meq)

Let us not be lost by the above arguments and make concepts more
practical. I think you just need to know the following to answer any
problem related to normality calculations:

Equivalent weight = FWt /n

Number of equivalents = n x number of moles

Also, N = n M

Where n is the number of reacting units ( protons or electrons ) and if you

are forming factors always remember that a mole contains n equivalents.
The factor becomes (1 mol/n eq) or (n eq/1 mol).

One last thing to keep in mind is that when dealing with normality
problems always 1 eq of A reacts with 1 eq of B regardless of the
stoichiometry of the reaction since this stoichiometry was used in the
calculation of normalities.
Example

Find the equivalent weights of NH 3 (FW = 17.03), H 2 C2 O4 (FW = 90.04)

in the reaction with excess NaOH, and KMnO4 (FW = 158.04) when
Mn(VII) is reduced to Mn(II).

Solution

Ammonia reacts with one proton only

Equivalent weights of NH 3 = FW/1 = 17.03 g/eq

Two protons of oxalic acid react with the base

Equivalent weights of H2 C2 O4 = FW/2 = 90.04/2 = 45.02 g/eq

Five electrons are involved in the reduction of Mn(VII) to Mn(II)

Equivalent weights of KMnO4 = FW/5 = 158.04/5 = 31.608 g/eq

Example

Find the normality of the solution containing 5.300 g/L of Na2CO3 (FW =
105.99), carbonate reacts with two protons.

Solution

Normality is the number of equivalents per liter, therefore we first find the
number of equivalents

eq wt = FW/2 = 105.99/2 = 53.00

eq = Wt/eq wt = 5.300/53.00 = 0.1 000

N = eq/L = 0.1000 eq/1L = 0.1000 N

The problem can be worked out simply as below

? eq Na2 CO3 /L = (5.300 g Na2 CO 3 /L ) x (1 mol Na2 CO 3 /105.99 g

Na2 CO 3 ) x (2 eq Na2 CO 3 /1 mol Na2 CO 3 ) = 0.1 N

The other choice is to find the molarity first and the convert it to normality
using the relation

N=nM

No of mol = 5.3 00 g/(105.99 g/mol)

M = mol/L = [5.300 g/(105.99 g/mol)]/ 1L

N = n M = 2 x [5.300 g/(105.99 g/mol)]/ 1L = 0.1000

A further option is to find the number of moles first followed by

multiplying the result by 2 to obtain the number of equivalents.

Example

Find the normality of the solution containing 5.267 g/L K 2 Cr 2 O7 (FW =

294.19) if Cr 6+ is reduced to Cr 3+.

Solution

The same as the previous example

N = eq/L , therefore we should find the number of eq where eq =
wt/eq wt , therefore we should find the equivalent weight where eq
wt = FW/n. Here each Contributes three electrons and since the
dichromate contains two Cr atoms we have 6 reacting units

Eq wt = (294.19 g/mol)/(6 eq/mol)

Eq = 5.267 g/ (294.19 g/mol)/(6 eq/mol)

N = eq/L = (294.19 g/mol)/(6 eq/mol)/1L = 0.1074 eq/L

Using the dimensional analysis we may write

? eq K2 Cr 2 O7 /L = (5.267 g K2 Cr 2 O 7 /L) x (mol K2 Cr 2 O 7 /294.19 g

K2 Cr 2 O 7 ) x (6 eq K2 Cr 2 O 7 /mol K2 Cr 2 O 7 ) = 0.0174 eq/L

Again one can choose to calculate the molarity then convert it to

normality

mol = 5.267 g/(294.19 g/mol)

M = mol/L = [5.267 g/(294.19 g/mol)]/L

N=nM
N = (6 eq/mol)x [5.267 g/(294.19 g/mol)]/L = 0.1074 eq/L

Density Calculations

In this section, you will learn how to find the molarity of solution from
two pieces of information ( density and percentage). Usually the
calculation is simple and can be done using several procedures. Look at
the examples below:

Example

What volume of concentrated HCl (FW = 36.5g/mol, 32%, density =

1.1g/mL) are required to prepare 500 mL of 2.0 M solution.
Solution

Always start with the density and find how many grams of solute in each
mL of solution. Remember that only a percentage o f the solution is solute
.

g HCl/ml = 1.1 x 0.32 g HCl / mL

The problem is now simple as it requires conversion of grams HCl to

mmol since the molarity is mmol per mL

mmol HCl = 1.1x0.32 x10 3 mg HCl/(36.5 mg/mmol) = 9.64 mmol

M = 9.64 mmol/mL = 9.64 M

Now, we can calculate the volume required from the relation

M i Vi (before dilution) = M fVf (after dilution)

9.64 x VmL= 2.0 x 250mL

VmL = 52 mL

This means that 52 mL of the concentrated HCl should be added to

distilled water and the volume should then be adjusted to 500 mL

Example

How many mL of concentrated H 2 SO4 (FW = 98.1 g/mol, 94%, d =1.831

g/mL) are required to prepare 1 L of 0.100 M solution?

Solution

g H2 SO4 / mL = 1.831 x 0.94 g /mL

Now find the mmol acid present

mmol H2 SO4 = (1.831 x 0.94 x 103 mg) / (98.1 mg/mmol)

The molarity can then be calculated as

M = mmol/mL = [(1.831 x 0.94 x 103 mg) / (98.1 mg/mmol)] / mL = 17.5

M

To find the volume required to prepare the solution

M i Vi (before dilution) = M fVf (after dilution)

17.5 x VmL = 0.100 x 1000 mL

VmL = 5.71 mL which should be added to distilled water and then adjusted
to 1 L.