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Answer: (A) 3
Explanation
The final concentration of a mixture is determined by the weighted average of the concentrations of its components. Using the formula for weighted averages:
C_fᵢₙₐₗ = ((w_A × C_A) + (w_B × C_B) + (w_C × C_C))/(w_A + w_B + w_C)
Given the concentrations C_A = 20%, C_B = 30%, C_C = 40%, and the mixing ratio 3 : 5 : a, we substitute these values into the equation where the final concentration is 30%:
30 = ((3 × 20) + (5 × 30) + (a × 40))/(3 + 5 + a)
30 = (60 + 150 + 40a)/(8 + a)
30(8 + a) = 210 + 40a
240 + 30a = 210 + 40a
240 - 210 = 40a - 30a
30 = 10a
a = 3
Alternatively, since the concentration of acid B is exactly 30%, it does not affect the final average if the weighted average of acids A and C is also 30%. For A (20%) and C (40%) to average out to 30%, the weights must balance the equal deviations (10% below and 10% above the target). Thus, the weight of A must equal the weight of C, which means 3 = a.