Chemical sanitizer concentration is expressed as

• A. percent
• B. ppm
• C. pH
• D. molarity

Answer: (B)

Concentration of chemical sanitizers is expressed as parts per million (ppm) because these solutions are used at very low, precisely controlled levels. In water-based mixtures, 1 mg of sanitizer per liter equals about 1 ppm, so ppm directly reflects the amount of active sanitizer in the solution. This makes it practical to read and apply from label directions and test with standard test kits. Expressing concentration as a percent would imply a much larger fraction and isn’t precise enough for the tiny doses used in sanitation. Molarity would rely on the chemical’s molecular weight and isn’t the typical way food-service sanitizers are specified, and pH measures acidity, not how much sanitizer is present. For context, chlorine sanitizers are often used around 50–100 ppm, while quats sit in a higher range, roughly 200–400 ppm.