What is the formula for calculating molarity?

The formula for calculating molarity is based on the relationship between the amount of solute present in a solution and the volume of the solution itself. Molarity is defined as the number of moles of solute divided by the volume of the solution in liters. This relationship allows one to quantify the concentration of a solution in terms of the number of solute particles present in a given volume.

Molarity (M) can be expressed as:

M = moles of solute / liters of solution

This formula is particularly useful in chemistry for preparing solutions with precise concentrations, facilitating reactions, and understanding the behavior of different substances in solution. Understanding molarity is fundamental for laboratory practices, particularly in areas such as titrations and reaction stoichiometry.

Other options presented do not correctly represent the definition of molarity. For instance, mass of solute divided by the volume of solution does not account for moles, and the other options incorrectly mix units of volume and mass without addressing the fundamental definition of concentration that molarity provides.