Using conversion factors, solve each of the following clinical problems:
b. A patient needs 0.024 g of a sulfa drug. There are 8-mg tablets in stock. How many tablets should be given?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the given values and the desired quantity. The patient needs 0.024 g of the sulfa drug, and the tablets in stock contain 8 mg each. The goal is to determine how many tablets are required.
2. Step 2: Convert the mass of the sulfa drug needed from grams to milligrams. Use the conversion factor: 1 g = 1000 mg. The equation is: $0.024\times 1000=24$ mg.
3. Step 3: Set up the problem using the conversion factor provided by the tablet dosage. Each tablet contains 8 mg of the sulfa drug. The equation to find the number of tablets is: $24÷8$ tablets.
4. Step 4: Perform the division to determine the number of tablets required. Ensure the units cancel appropriately, leaving the result in tablets.
5. Step 5: Verify the result by checking that the calculated number of tablets provides the correct dosage of 0.024 g (or 24 mg) when multiplied by the tablet dosage of 8 mg.

Key Concepts

Conversion Factors

Conversion factors are ratios that express how one unit of measurement relates to another. They are essential in solving problems that require unit changes, such as converting grams to milligrams. In this case, knowing that 1 gram equals 1000 milligrams allows for accurate calculations when determining the required dosage in tablets.

Dosage Calculation

Dosage calculation involves determining the correct amount of medication a patient should receive based on their needs and the available forms of the drug. This requires understanding the prescribed amount, the concentration of the medication, and how to convert these into practical units, such as tablets. Accurate dosage is critical for effective treatment and patient safety.

Medication Formulation

Medication formulation refers to the specific way a drug is prepared and presented for administration, such as tablets, capsules, or liquid. Each form has a defined strength, which is crucial for calculating the correct dosage. In this scenario, knowing that the sulfa drug is available in 8-mg tablets helps in determining how many tablets are needed to meet the patient's requirement of 0.024 g.