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A 20%20 \% ethanol solution is mixed with another ethanol solution, say, SS of unknown concentration in the proportion 1:31:3 by volume. This mixture is then mixed with an equal volume of 20%20 \% ethanol solution. If the resultant mixture is a 31.25%31.25 \% ethanol solution, then the unknown concentration of SS is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 4

Since the solutions are mixed in a 1:3 ratio by volume, let's use convenient numbers:

20% ethanol solution: 100 liters

Unknown solution S: 300 liters

We use 100 and 300 to make calculations simple while maintaining the 1:3 ratio.


In the 20% solution:

Ethanol content = 20% of 100 liters = 20 liters

In solution S:

Let the concentration of S be x%

Ethanol content = x% of 300 liters = 3x liters

After mixing these two:

Total volume = 100 + 300 = 400 liters

Total ethanol = 20 + 3x liters


The mixture is then mixed with an equal volume of 20% ethanol solution.

Equal volume means: 400 liters of 20% solution is added

Ethanol in this 20% solution = 20% of 400 = 80 liters


Final mixture totals:

Total volume = 400 + 400 = 800 liters

Total ethanol = (20 + 3x) + 80 = (100 + 3x) liters


The final mixture is 31.25% ethanol.

Using the percentage formula:

Total ethanolTotal volume×100=Final percentage\tfrac{\text{Total ethanol}}{\text{Total volume}} \times 100 = \text{Final percentage}

100+3x800×100=31.25\tfrac{100 + 3x}{800} \times 100 = 31.25

100+3x800=0.3125\tfrac{100 + 3x}{800} = 0.3125

100+3x=800×0.3125=250100 + 3x = 800 \times 0.3125 = 250

3x=250−100=1503x = 250 - 100 = 150

x=50x = 50


The unknown concentration of solution S is 50%.

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