Molarity Calculator
Calculate the molarity of any solution by entering the mass of solute, molar mass, and solution volume. Essential for chemistry, biology, and pharmaceutical labs.
Visualize Solution Concentration
Watch how molarity changes as you adjust mass, molar mass, and volume
📐 Formula
M = mass ÷ (MM × V)
🧫 Moles of Solute
1.000 mol
📊 Concentration
1.0000 mol/L
Understanding Molarity
Molarity (M) is the most common measure of solution concentration in chemistry. It tells you how many moles of solute are dissolved per liter of solution. Molarity is fundamental for stoichiometric calculations, dilutions, and preparing standard solutions.
The Formula
Step-by-Step Example
Finding the molarity of a solution with 40 g of NaOH in 500 mL of solution:
- Mass of solute: 40 g
- Molar mass of NaOH: 40.00 g/mol
- Volume in liters: 500 mL = 0.5 L
- Moles = 40 ÷ 40 = 1.0 mol
- M = 1.0 ÷ 0.5 = 2.0 M
When Is Molarity Used?
- Lab Preparations — Making standard solutions for titrations and experiments.
- Dilutions — Using M₁V₁ = M₂V₂ to calculate required volumes.
- Stoichiometry — Relating solution volumes to moles in balanced equations.
- Pharmaceuticals — Preparing drug solutions at precise concentrations.
Dilution Calculator (M₁V₁ = M₂V₂)
Calculate how to dilute a stock solution to a target concentration.
Common 1 M Solution Preparation
Mass of solute needed to prepare 1 liter of 1 M solution.
| Solute | Molar Mass (g/mol) | Mass for 1 M / 1 L |
|---|---|---|
| NaCl (table salt) | 58.44 g/mol | 58.44 g |
| NaOH (sodium hydroxide) | 40 g/mol | 40.00 g |
| HCl (hydrochloric acid) | 36.46 g/mol | 36.46 g |
| H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid) | 98.08 g/mol | 98.08 g |
| Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) | 180.16 g/mol | 180.16 g |
| KMnO₄ (potassium permanganate) | 158.03 g/mol | 158.03 g |
| CaCl₂ (calcium chloride) | 110.98 g/mol | 110.98 g |
| Na₂CO₃ (sodium carbonate) | 105.99 g/mol | 105.99 g |
Molarity vs Volume Explorer
Drag the slider to see how molarity changes when you hold mass constant and vary volume.
Common Dilution Calculations
Using the dilution formula M₁V₁ = M₂V₂ to calculate required volumes.
| Starting Solution | Target Molarity | Final Volume | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 M HCl, 100 mL | 0.1 M HCl | 1000 mL | M₁V₁ = M₂V₂ → V₂ = (1.0 × 100) / 0.1 = 1000 mL |
| 6.0 M NaOH, 50 mL | 1.0 M NaOH | 300 mL | V₂ = (6.0 × 50) / 1.0 = 300 mL |
| 12.0 M HCl, 10 mL | 2.0 M HCl | 60 mL | V₂ = (12.0 × 10) / 2.0 = 60 mL |
| 0.5 M NaCl, 200 mL | 0.05 M NaCl | 2000 mL | V₂ = (0.5 × 200) / 0.05 = 2000 mL |
Frequently Asked Questions About Molarity
Common questions about molarity calculations, dilutions, and solution preparation.
Molarity (M) is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is calculated using the formula: M = mass (g) ÷ (molar mass (g/mol) × volume (L)). For example, dissolving 58.44 g of NaCl in 1 L gives a 1.0 M solution.
Molarity (M) = moles of solute per liter of solution. Molality (m) = moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. Molality doesn't change with temperature because it's based on mass, while molarity can shift slightly since solution volume expands with heat.
The dilution equation states that the product of initial molarity (M₁) and volume (V₁) equals the product of final molarity (M₂) and volume (V₂). To dilute 50 mL of 6 M HCl to 1 M: V₂ = (6 × 50) / 1 = 300 mL. Add solvent until total volume reaches 300 mL.
To make 1 liter of a 1 M solution, weigh out exactly one molar mass of the solute in grams. For NaCl (58.44 g/mol), you need 58.44 g. For NaOH (40.00 g/mol), you need 40.00 g. Dissolve the solute and add solvent to reach exactly 1 L total volume.
Normality (N) = Molarity (M) × n-factor, where n-factor is the number of reactive equivalents per molecule. For monoprotic acids like HCl (n=1), N = M. For diprotic acids like H₂SO₄ (n=2), N = 2M. Use our normality calculator for these conversions.
Yes, molarity is temperature-dependent because it's defined per liter of solution, and liquid volume expands or contracts with temperature. At higher temperatures, the same amount of solute occupies a larger volume, slightly lowering molarity. For precise work, molality (moles per kg of solvent) is used instead since mass doesn't change with temperature.
Yes! Multiply molarity by molar mass: g/L = M × Molar Mass (g/mol). A 0.5 M NaCl solution has 0.5 × 58.44 = 29.22 g/L of NaCl dissolved. This conversion is useful for preparing solutions from known concentrations.
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