Percentage Solution Calculator
Calculate w/v, v/v, and w/w percentage solutions for laboratory preparations
Solution Prep
Solution Parameters
Weight/Volume (w/v): Mass of solute per volume of solution
Formula
% (w/v) = (solute weight / solution volume) × 100
Key Concepts
Weight/Volume (w/v)%
Mass of solute (g) per 100 mL of solution. Common for solids dissolved in liquids. Example: 1% (w/v) NaCl = 1g NaCl in 100mL water.
Volume/Volume (v/v)%
Volume of solute (mL) per 100 mL of solution. Common for liquids mixed with liquids. Example: 70% (v/v) ethanol = 70mL ethanol + 30mL water.
Weight/Weight (w/w)%
Mass of solute (g) per 100g of solution. Used when both components are weighed. Example: 10% (w/w) NaOH = 10g NaOH + 90g water.
Common Laboratory Solutions
Physiological Saline0.9%
NaCl in Water (w/v)
Ethanol for Disinfection70%
Ethanol in Water (v/v)
Glucose Solution5%
D-Glucose in Water (w/v)
Acetic Acid (Vinegar)5%
Acetic acid in Water (v/v)
SDS Solution10%
SDS in Water (w/v)
Agarose Gel1%
Agarose in TAE/TBE buffer (w/v)
Important Notes
- •Always add solute to solvent, not vice versa (especially for concentrated acids/bases)
- •For w/v solutions, final volume is measured after dissolution
- •For w/w solutions, temperature affects density and weight measurements
- •Some solutes have significant volume change upon dissolution
Common Percentage Conversions
| Percentage | w/v (g/100mL) | v/v (mL/100mL) | w/w (g/100g) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1% | 0.1g | 0.1mL | 0.1g | Dilute standards |
| 0.5% | 0.5g | 0.5mL | 0.5g | Agar plates |
| 1% | 1g | 1mL | 1g | Staining solutions |
| 5% | 5g | 5mL | 5g | Blocking buffers |
| 10% | 10g | 10mL | 10g | SDS-PAGE gels |
| 20% | 20g | 20mL | 20g | Sugar solutions |
| 50% | 50g | 50mL | 50g | Glycerol stocks |