Concentration of solutions
I can explain what is meant by the concentration of a solution and calculate the concentration of various solutions.
Concentration of solutions
I can explain what is meant by the concentration of a solution and calculate the concentration of various solutions.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Concentration of a solution is the mass of solute dissolved in 1 dm³ of distilled water, in g/dm³.
- The more solute that is dissolved, the more concentrated the solution.
- Solutions can be diluted (i.e. made less concentrated) by increasing the volume of distilled water.
- Diluting solutions with distilled water ensures no other substances are present in the solution.
- Volume can be measured in various units; 1 dm³ is equivalent to 1000 cm³.
Keywords
Solution - substance formed when a solute dissolves into a solvent
Solute - a substance that has dissolved into a solvent
Solvent - a substance into which a solute dissolves
Concentration - the amount of a solute dissolved in a certain volume of solvent
Dilute - a low concentration of a solute in a solution
Common misconception
Pupils often confuse the chemical definitions for 'concentration' and 'strength'.
Stress that concentration is a measure of particles interspersed throughout a specific volume of liquid.
To help you plan your year 10 chemistry lesson on: Concentration of solutions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 chemistry lesson on: Concentration of solutions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 chemistry lessons from the Making salts unit, dive into the full secondary chemistry curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Each station: common solute, spatula, weighing boat, balance, measuring cylinder, access to distilled water, conical flask/beaker + stirring rod.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
kg
cm³
℃
N
g/dm³
substance formed when a solute dissolves into a solvent
a substance that has dissolved into a solvent
a substance into which a solute dissolves