How do you convert 20 mEq of potassium to grams if the concentration of potassium is 39.1 grams/mole?

To convert milliequivalents (mEq) of potassium to grams, it is important to understand the relationship between mEq, moles, and grams. The first step is to determine the number of moles of potassium represented by the given milliequivalents.

Potassium has a valence of 1, meaning 1 mEq of potassium is equivalent to 1 mmol (millimole) of potassium. Therefore, 20 mEq of potassium is equal to 20 mmol.

To convert millimoles to moles, you can use the conversion factor that 1000 mmol equals 1 mole. Thus, 20 mmol is equivalent to:

[

20 , \text{mmol} \div 1000 = 0.020 , \text{moles}

]

Next, knowing the molecular weight of potassium is 39.1 grams/mole, you can calculate the mass in grams by multiplying the number of moles by the molecular weight:

[

0.020 , \text{moles} \times 39.1 , \text{g/mole} = 0.778 , \text{grams}

]

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