Final answer:
To determine the mass of the solvent, subtract the mass of the solute (40% of the total solution mass, which is 65.2 g) from the mass of the solution (163 g), yielding 97.8 g as the mass of the solvent.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the mass of the solvent in a solution when the concentration and the mass of the solution are known, you can follow this method:
Given the concentration as a mass/mass percent, you have the percentage of the solute in the solution. Here, the concentration is given as 0.40 or 40%. The mass of the solution is 163 g. 40% of this is the solute, so the solute mass is 40% of 163 g, which equals 65.2 g.
The formula to find the mass of the solution is:
mass of solution = mass of solute + mass solvent
Therefore, mass of solvent = mass of solution - mass of solute
Mass of solvent = 163 g - 65.2 g = 97.8 g
The solvent mass is 97.8 grams.