Solving Concentration Problem in Tank

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    Concentration Tank
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a concentration problem involving a tank containing sodium hydroxide and water, focusing on how long it will take for the concentration to decrease from 10 grams per litre to 3.2 grams per litre. Participants explore the mathematical modeling of the problem and share their approaches to solving it.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the problem and requests help in solving it, emphasizing their lack of experience.
  • Another participant encourages showing work and suggests that attempting to solve the problem could lead to better understanding and invites further questions.
  • A participant claims to have solved the problem by using a differential equation to model the change in mass of salt over time, stating the final time required for the concentration to drop to 3.2 grams per litre.
  • The same participant expresses excitement about their solution and confirms the time calculated, seeking clarification on the interpretation of their result.
  • A later reply acknowledges a correction regarding the interpretation of time, indicating a friendly exchange among participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no clear consensus on the solution process, as participants have different levels of understanding and approaches. While one participant claims to have solved the problem, others have not yet confirmed or challenged this solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully detailed their assumptions or the steps leading to the solution, and there may be unresolved aspects of the mathematical modeling involved.

kanki
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Hi I'm a newbie and i have a problem here that i cannot solve, or i don't know how to solve. Hope you experts can help me out!
Here it is:
A tank contains 10 kg of sodium hydroxide in 1000 litres of water. Water is continuosly added to the tank at a rate of 5 litres/min so that the mixture is diluted evenly. At the same time, the solution flows out at the same rate. Initially, there were 10 grams of sodium hydroxide in every litre of water. How long will it take for the concentration of the solution to drop to 3.2 grams per litre?
 
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kanki said:
Hi I'm a newbie and i have a problem here that i cannot solve, or i don't know how to solve. Hope you experts can help me out!
Here it is:
A tank contains 10 kg of sodium hydroxide in 1000 litres of water. Water is continuosly added to the tank at a rate of 5 litres/min so that the mixture is diluted evenly. At the same time, the solution flows out at the same rate. Initially, there were 10 grams of sodium hydroxide in every litre of water. How long will it take for the concentration of the solution to drop to 3.2 grams per litre?

Hello Kanki. You know, you need to show a little work dude. It's best for you that way don't you think? Just make some attempt at solving it, anything, just move the numbers around the paper randomly, whatever, and show us what you did and explain what you think should be done. Here's one we worked on earlier (click on the link below). I bet a dollar if you follow it closely, you can figure out yours. Try it, then come back and say, "look, I tried to do this one, here's what I did <insert something here, anything>. Can you guys explain where I'm going wrong?" Or someone may just solve it. Well, what I said is what the general policy is anyway.

EvLer's mixing problem

Welcome to PF! :smile:
 
Last edited:
Oh I'm so excited now!
I have solved the problem after referring to the thread you gave me just now!
It's awesome... wow... and this problem is much more easier than EvLer's.
Thanks!

Here's the solution:

The rate of change of volume is constant. so V is a constant. And i just have to consider the change in the mass of the salt.

V = 1000 litres

let s = mass of salt in the solution

[tex]s(0)=10kg[/tex]
[tex]ds/dt=-5(s/v)[/tex] (after reading through the thread, i realize that i missed that mass of salt is volume x concentration)

[tex]ln|s|=-5/1000(t)+ln10[/tex]

concentration is 3.2 grams/litres and it's 3.2kg in 1000 litres.

By substituing the value s=3.2 kg
finally,

t = 227.89 minutes = 3 hours 48 seconds
 
kanki said:
Oh I'm so excited now!
I have solved the problem after referring to the thread you gave me just now!
It's awesome... wow... and this problem is much more easier than EvLer's.
Thanks!

Here's the solution:

The rate of change of volume is constant. so V is a constant. And i just have to consider the change in the mass of the salt.

V = 1000 litres

let s = mass of salt in the solution

[tex]s(0)=10kg[/tex]
[tex]ds/dt=-5(s/v)[/tex] (after reading through the thread, i realize that i missed that mass of salt is volume x concentration)

[tex]ln|s|=-5/1000(t)+ln10[/tex]

concentration is 3.2 grams/litres and it's 3.2kg in 1000 litres.

By substituing the value s=3.2 kg
finally,

t = 227.89 minutes = 3 hours 48 seconds

That's 3 hours and 48 minutes right?
 
Last edited:
Oh thanks for correcting me, I'm sorry! ha ha...
 

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