The molecular mass of sulphuric acid is 98. If 49 g of the acid is dissolved in water to make one litre of solution, what will be the strength of the acid?

The strength of an acid in normality (N) is defined as the number of gram equivalents of solute per litre of solution. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is a diprotic or dibasic acid, meaning it can donate two hydrogen ions (protons) per molecule. Its equivalent weight is calculated by dividing its molecular mass (98 g/mol) by its basicity (2), resulting in 49 g/eq. Therefore, 49 grams of sulphuric acid represents exactly one gram equivalent. When 49 grams of the acid is dissolved in water to make one litre of solution, the concentration is one gram equivalent per litre, which corresponds to a strength of one normal (1 N). While the molarity of this solution would be 0.5 M (since 49 g is 0.5 moles), the normality is 1 N because normality equals molarity multiplied by the n-factor (2 for H2SO4).