PHARMACEUTICAL

CALCULATIONS:
ALTERING PRODUCT
STRENGTH,

Dr. Arshad Mahmood

Objectives

 Upon completion of this chapter, the student will

be able to:
 Perform calculations for altering product strength
by dilution or concentration
 Perform calculations for the preparation and use of
stock solutions.
Keep in mind
 Solution = solute + solvent
 If w/v – solute in g / solution in mL
 If v/v – solute in mL / solute + solvent in mL
 If w/w – solute in g / solute + solvent in g
 Changing x% to fraction
 X g / 100 mL
 Changing 1:x ratio strength to fraction
 1 g / x mL
Definitions

 Diluent:
 A substance that is added to a pharmaceutical product to
reduce the strength of the product. A diluent most often
has no drug substance in it, sterile water and petrolatum
for example.
 Stock solutions:
 Usually strong solutions from which weaker ones are
easily made. Stock solutions are prepared on a weight in
volume basis.
 Altering Product Strength
 If a mixture of a given strength is diluted to twice
its original quantity, its strength will be reduced by
one half because the active ingredient will be
contained in twice as many parts of the whole
 5 grams in 100 mL = 5%
 5 grams in 200 mL = ?%
Dilution and Concentration
 If a mixture is concentrated to one half its original
quantity, the active ingredient will be contained in one-
half as many parts of the whole and the strength will be
doubled.
 5 grams in 100 mL = 5%
 5 grams in 50 mL = ?%
 The percentage or ratio strength decreases as the
quantity of solution increases (active ingredient remains
constant)
 The reverse is also true
Multiple Ways to Solve a Problem

 A problem can be solved in several ways. the best way is the one
that is clearly understood.
 Problems in this section may be solved by:
 Inverse proportion

 Q1 x C1 = Q2 x C2

 By determining the quantity of active solute needed and then

calculating the quantity of the available solution (usually
concentrated or stock solution) that will provide the needed
amount of constituent.
 Rules

These two rules, wherever they may be applied, greatly

simplify the calculation:

 1. When ratio strengths are given, convert them to percentage

strength before setting up a proportion.
 2. Whenever proportional parts enter into a calculation , reduce them
to lowest terms. culation, reduce them to lowest terms
Several Methods for Solving
 Inverse proportions
 Q1C1= Q2C2
 Dilutions and Concentrations of Liquids

 Example
 If 500 mL of a 15% (v/v) solution of methyl salicylate
in alcohol are diluted to 1500 mL, what will be the
percentage strength (v/v)?
 Q1 (C1) = Q2 (C2)
500 mL (15 %) = (1500 mL) (X %)
X = 5% (answer)
Determine Amount of Solution of a
Desired Strength
 How many grams of 10% (w/w) ammonia solution
can be made from 1800 g of 28% (w/w) strong
ammonia solution?
 Use the same formula
(1800 g)(28 %) = (X g) (10%)
X = 5040 g (answer)
Example

 How many milliliters of a 1:5000 (w/v) solution of

phenylmercuric acetate can be made from 125 mL
of a 0.2% solution?
 1:5000 = 0.02%
 Use the same formula
(125 mL) (0.2 %) =(X mL) (0.02 %)
X = 1250 mL (answer)
Example

 How many milliliters of a 1:400 (w/v) stock solution

should be used to make 4 liters of a 1:2000 (w/v)
solution?
 4 liters = 4000 mL
 1:400 = 0.25% 1:2000 = 0.05%
 Use the same formula
X mL (0.25 %) = 4000 mL (0.05%)
X = 800 mL (answer)
Example

 How many milliliters of a 1:400 (w/v) stock

solution should be used in preparing 1 gallon of a
1:2000 (w/v) solution?
 1 gallon = 3785 mL
 1:400 = 0.25% 1:2000 = 0.05%
X (0.25%) = (3785 mL)(0.05%)
X = 757 mL (answer)
Using a Vial or Amp Stock
 We are to prepare 30 mL of a 5 mg/mL oral
phenobarbital solution using 1 mL vials with a
concentration of 65 mg/mL. How much stock
solution will be required?
Step 1:
 Calculate the amount of phenobarbital needed
 30 ml x 5 mg/mL tells us we need 150 mg of
phenobarbital for the solution
Step 2:
 Calculate the volume of available stock needed.
Our supply is 65 mg/mL, so
65 mg = 150 mg
1 mL X
X = 2.3 mL of phenobarbital will have to be drawn up
• In order to use our formula we must
calculate the percent strength of each
ingredient
• 5 mg/mL = 0.005 g/mL which is a 0.5%
solution
• 65 mg/mL = 0.065 g/mL = 6.5% solution
X (6.5%) = (30 mL) (0.5%)
X = 2.3 ml of phenobarbital required
(answer)
Determining Quantity of Active
Ingredient in Specified Amount of
Solution Given Strength of Diluted
Portion
Example

 How much silver nitrate should be used in

preparing 50 mL of a solution such that 5 mL
diluted to 500 mL will yield a 1:1000 solution?

1000 mL = 1 g
500 mL Xg
 X = 0.5 g of silver nitrate in 500 mL of diluted solution
(1:1000), which is also the amount in 5 mL of the
stronger (stock) solution, since the 50 mL and the 5 mL
are the same strength
Example (cont.)

5 mL = 0.5 g
50 mL Xg
X = 5 g (answer)
Example(4): How much drug should be used in preparing 50 ml of a solution such that 5 ml diluted to
500 ml will yield a 1:1000 solution?
Amount of Diluent Needed for Preparing
Solution of Specified Lower Strength
Example

 How many milliliters of water should be added to

300 mL of a 1:750 (w/v) solution of benzalkonium
chloride to make a 1:2500 (w/v) solution?
 1:750 = 0.133% 1:2500 = 0.04%
 Using our formula, recall that the Q2 always represents
the FINAL volume
 (300 mL) (0.133%) = X (0.04%)
 X = 997.5 or 1000 mL
Example (cont.)
 This is the volume of our 0.04% solution; therefore, we
must subtract the volume of the 0.133% solution (the
amount we started with) from this final volume to
determine how much water or diluent was added.

1000 mL – 300 mL = 700 mL (answer)

Problem 1

What is the strength of a sodium chloride

solution obtained by evaporating 800 g of a 10%
(w/w) solution to 250 g?
 Problem 2

27

How many milliliters of water for injection must be added to 10

liters of a 50%(w/v) dextrose injection to reduce the concentration
to 30% (w/v)
28

Problem 3
How many milliliters of a 1:400 (w/v) stock solution should be
used to make 4 liters of a 1:2000 (w/v) solution?
29

Problem 4
How many milliliters of a 1:50 (w/v) stock solution of a chemical
should be used to prepare 1 liter of a 1:4000 (w/v) solution?
30

Problem 5
How much silver nitrate should be used in preparing 50 mL of a
solution such that 5 mL diluted to 500 mL will yield a 1:2000
solution?
Example 6
 How many milliliters of a 5% (w/v) solution of
menthol in alcohol should be used to obtain the
amount of menthol needed in preparing the lotion?
 Menthol 0.1%
 Hexachlorphene 0.1%
 Glycerin 10.0%
 Alcohol 70% to make 500mL
Example 7
 How many milliliters of a 1:400 (w/v) stock
solution should be used to make 4 liters of a 1:2000
(w/v) solution?
Example 8
 How many milliliters of a 1:50 (w/v) stock solution
of a chemical should be used to prepare 1 liter of a
1:4000 (w/v) solution?
Example 9
 How many milliliters of water must be added to
250 mL of a 25% (w/v) stock solution of sodium
chloride to prepare a 0.9% (w/v) sodium chloride
solution?
Example 10
 If a syrup containing 65% (w/v) of sucrose is
evaporated to 85% of its volume, what percent
(w/v) of sucrose will it contain?
Dilution of Acids
 The strength of an official concentrated acid is
expressed as percentage weight-in-weight, e.g.,
HCl, NF contains 36.5% w/w
 The strength of an official diluted acid is expressed
as percentage weight-in-volume, e.g., Dil HCl, NF
contains 9.5% w/v
Example 11
 How many milliliters of 37% (w/w) hydrochloric
acid having a specific gravity of 1.20 are required
to make 1000 mL of diluted hydrochloric acid 10%
(w/v)?
Example 12
 How many milliliters of 85% w/w phosphoric acid
having a specific gravity of 1.71 should be used in
preparing 1 gallon of ¼% w/v phosphoric acid
solution to be used for bladder irrigation?
39

Questions !

Thanks