Fluoride is added to municipal drinking water supplies to protect teeth against

Question

Fluoride is added to municipal drinking water supplies to protect teeth against cavities. There is concern however that fluoride ions in water may contribute to skeletal fluorosis, arthritis-like disease. The typical concentration of fluoride in drinking water supplies is 1ppm. One study of skeletal fluorosis suggests that drinking water with a fluoride concentration of 2.1 times 10^-4 M for 20 years raises the fluoride content in bone to 6mg/g, a level at which a patient may experience stiff joints and other symptoms. How much fluoride (in milligrams) is present in a 115mg sample of bone with this fluoride concentration?

Explanation / Answer

SOLUTION:

Flouride concentration in bones with stiffness = 6mg/g

It means 1g (or 1000mg) of bone contain 6mg of flouride

Hence 1mg of bone will contain 6 / 1000 = 0.006mg of flouride ion.

Therefore 115mg sample of bone will contain 115 X 0.006 = 0.69mg of flouride.

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