The concentration of cholesterol in the blood serum of a normal adult is approximately 200 mg/dL. How many grams of cholesterol does a person with a blood volume of 5.75 L have circulating in his or her blood? (You may need to review Chapter 1.)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. The goal is to calculate the total mass of cholesterol in grams circulating in the blood. The given data includes the concentration of cholesterol (200 mg/dL) and the total blood volume (5.75 L).
2. Step 2: Convert the blood volume from liters (L) to deciliters (dL). Use the conversion factor: 1 L = 10 dL. Multiply the given blood volume (5.75 L) by 10 to express it in dL.
3. Step 3: Calculate the total mass of cholesterol in milligrams (mg). Use the formula: \( \text{Total mass (mg)} = \text{Concentration (mg/dL)} \times \text{Blood volume (dL)} \). Substitute the values: 200 mg/dL for the concentration and the converted blood volume from Step 2.
4. Step 4: Convert the total mass of cholesterol from milligrams (mg) to grams (g). Use the conversion factor: 1 g = 1000 mg. Divide the total mass in mg (calculated in Step 3) by 1000 to express it in grams.
5. Step 5: Verify the units and ensure the final answer is expressed in grams. Double-check the calculations to confirm accuracy and consistency with the given data.

Key Concepts

Cholesterol Concentration

Cholesterol concentration is typically measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and indicates the amount of cholesterol present in a specific volume of blood. In this case, a normal adult has a cholesterol concentration of approximately 200 mg/dL, which serves as a baseline for calculating total cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Blood Volume

Blood volume refers to the total amount of blood circulating in the body, which for an average adult is about 5 to 6 liters. Understanding blood volume is crucial for calculating the total amount of substances, like cholesterol, present in the bloodstream, as it directly influences the total mass of cholesterol based on its concentration.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting measurements from one unit to another, which is essential in this problem to find the total grams of cholesterol. Since the concentration is given in mg/dL and the blood volume in liters, converting these units appropriately allows for accurate calculations of total cholesterol in grams.