A chemist needs to prepare a solution by mixing two chemicals. Chemical A costs $12 per liter, and Chemical B costs $8 per liter. If the chemist needs to use twice as much Chemical A as Chemical B and the total volume must be 30 liters, what is the total cost of the solution?

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:59:47 +0000

A chemist needs to prepare a solution by mixing two chemicals. Chemical A costs $12 per liter, and Chemical B costs $8 per liter. If the chemist uses twice as much Chemical A as Chemical B and the total volume must be 30 liters, understanding the cost breakdown helps optimize both process and budget. Current industry trends show growing interest in precise formulations, especially in labs, healthcare, and manufacturing—driving demand for accurate mixing strategies even among non-specialists. This scenario reflects broader needs across professional and home chemistry applications where efficiency and accuracy matter. Why A chemist needs to prepare a solution by mixing two chemicals. Chemical A costs $12 per liter, and Chemical B costs $8 per liter. If the chemist uses twice as much Chemical A as Chemical B and the total volume must be 30 liters, the real-world relevance lies in cost-effective formulation—critical for cost-conscious operations in research, education, or small-scale production. Understanding how volume ratios impact total expense helps professionals make informed decisions beyond raw pricing, especially when scaling solutions. Let’s break down the math simply. Since the chemist uses twice as much Chemical A as Chemical B:
Let the volume of Chemical B be *x* liters → then Chemical A is *2x* liters.
The total volume is *x + 2x = 3x = 30 liters*, so *x = 10* liters.
Thus, Chemical A is 20 liters and Chemical B is 10 liters. Now calculating cost:
- Cost of Chemical A: 20 liters × $12/liter = $240
- Cost of Chemical B: 10 liters × $8/liter = $80
**Total cost: $240 + $80 = $320**