Q. 1.30 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

If the toxic quantity is $1.5 g$of ethylene glycol per $1000 g$ of body mass, what percentage of ethylene glycol is fatal?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The percentage of ethylene glycol is fatal is $0.15\%$.

Step 1: Given Information

We need to find the percentage of ethylene glycol is fatal.

Step 2: Simplify

Consider that the toxic quantity is $1.5 g$ of ethylene glycol per $1000 g$ of body mass, and determine what percentage of ethylene glycol is fatal.

To determine a percentage, divide into the parts by the total and multiply by $100 \%$ .

$$\begin{gathered} \text{P}=\frac{ Part }{ Whole }\times 100 \\ =\frac{1.5}{1000}\times 100 \\ =1.5\times {10}^{-3}\times 100 \\ \approx 0.15\text{\%} \end{gathered}$$

So, approximately  $0.15\%$ ethylene glycol is fatal.