Answer :
Final answer:
To administer 20 mEq of a medication with an available concentration of 40 mEq per 10 mL, 5 mL of the medication is required.
Explanation:
The question relates to calculating the volume of medication needed from a given concentration when preparing an IV solution. The order is for 20 mEq of medication, and it is available at a concentration of 40 mEq per 10 mL. Using a simple proportion, we can find out that to administer 20 mEq of the medication, we will need half of 10 mL, since 20 mEq is half of the available 40 mEq concentration. Therefore, the calculation will be:
(40 mEq / 10 mL) = (20 mEq / x mL)
To solve for x (the volume needed in mL), we can set up a proportion:
40 mEq/10 mL = 20 mEq/x mL
Cross-multiplying to solve for x gives:
40 mEq * x mL = 20 mEq * 10 mL
x mL = (20 mEq * 10 mL) / 40 mEq
x mL = 200 mEq*mL / 40 mEq
x mL = 5 mL
Therefore, 5 mL of the medication is required to provide the ordered 20 mEq dose.
