How to Calculate Normality

Co-authored by Anne Schmidt and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: January 3, 2024 Fact Checked

Many chemical substances are available in a dissolved liquid form, rather than a solid form. Liquid chemicals are easier to dispense and measure than solid ones, especially since the solid form is usually a powder. However, the stoichiometry of chemical reactions is complicated by the liquid delivery method. Stoichiometry performs calculations using the amount of the desired substance being placed into the equations. The liquid used to dissolve the substance will not participate in the reaction, and stoichiometry will not take that liquid in to account in the reaction. The amount of the reacting substance being delivered can be determined by finding the normality of the solution.^{[1]
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Research source} Use these tips to learn how to calculate normality.

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Consult chemical reference books to find out the valence and the molecular weight of the substance. Molecular weight is the ratio of the mass of 1 molecule of the substance to the mass (one carbon12 molecule divided by 12.) Valence is determined by the maximum number of subatomic valence or atom to atom bonds that the substance may form with other substances.^{[2]
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Research source} This information will be required to determine normality.
The equivalent weight of the substance is equal to the molecular weight divided by the valence.^{[3]
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Normality is the concentration of the substance of interest in a dissolving liquid. Therefore, normality is a property of the mixture, and will vary with the use of more or less dissolving liquid to place the substance of interest into a solution.^{[4]
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Research source} Normality is the number of grams of the substance of interest divided by (the equivalent weight of the substance times the amount of dissolving liquid).^{[5]
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Research source} Dissolve sodium chloride (NaCl) in water. Sodium chloride has a valence of 1 and a molecular weight of 58.443. Therefore, the equivalent weight is 58.443/1 or 58.443. 1 gram of NaCl is dissolved into 0.05 L of water, so the normality of the solution is 1/(58.443 x 0.05) or 0.342.

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How do I calculate my normality?

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You can use the formula N= weight of substance in grams*1000/ equivalent weight of substance*volume required in mL.

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How do I prepare a 2N HCl solution?

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Weigh 7.29g of HCl in a 100ml volumetric flask. Add deionized water to 100ml and shake for a 2N HCl solution.

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3.65 g of HCl is present in 100mL solution. What is its normality?

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It's 1N, 1 molecular weight in grams per 1 liter (1000 mL) solution. Molecular weight of HCl is 1 (H) + 35.5 (Cl) = 36.5.

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