Answer:
2.1 gallons
Step-by-step explanation:
Let V = volume of 20 % hydrogen peroxide = 5 gallons, V₁ = volume of 30 % hydrogen peroxide and V₃ = volume of 23 % hydrogen peroxide. So the final volume is V + V₁ = V₂
V₁ + 5 = V₂ (1)
Also, since quantity = concentration × volume,
Let Q = quantity of 20% volume hydrogen peroxide = 0.2V, Q₁ = quantity of 20% volume hydrogen peroxide = 0.3V₁ and Q₂ = quantity of 23% volume hydrogen peroxide = 0.23V₂
So, 0.2V + 0.3V₁ = 0.23V₂
0.2 × 5 + 0.3V₁ = 0.23V₂
1 + 0.3V₁ = 0.23V₂
0.3V₁ - 0.23V₂ = -1 (2)
substituting equation (1) into (2), we have
0.3V₁ - 0.23(V₁ + 5) = -1
expanding the brackets, we have
0.3V₁ - 0.23V₁ + -0.23 × 5 = -1
0.07V₁ - 1.15 = -1
adding 1.15 to both sides, we have
0.07V₁ = -1 + 1.15
0.07V₁ = 0.15
dividing both sides by 0.07, we have
V₁ = 0.15/0.07
= 2.143 gallons
≅ 2.1 gallons to the nearest tenth
So, we need 2.1 gallons of 30 % hydrogen peroxide to obtain a mixture that is 23 % hydrogen peroxide.