Dilution confusion!!! - how to express in ratios??!!! (Jun/10/2010 )
Hi folks.. this can be a very irritating question but then it has been eating me up since morning so I have to take it out. 
If I add 1 ml solution A to 1ml solution B I diluted it 2 times. So what do I say in ratios? 1:1 or 1:2 dilution????!!!!!!! 
Similarly, if I added 1 ml solution A to 3 ml solution B I diluted it 4 times. What do I say 1:3 times or 1:4 dilution???!!!! 
One of those days in science that people dread to have!!!! 
Prep! on Jun 9 2010, 11:25 PM said:
If I add 1 ml solution A to 1ml solution B I diluted it 2 times. So what do I say in ratios? 1:1 or 1:2 dilution????!!!!!!!
Similarly, if I added 1 ml solution A to 3 ml solution B I diluted it 4 times. What do I say 1:3 times or 1:4 dilution???!!!!
One of those days in science that people dread to have!!!!
you know: 1:10 = 1+9
therefore -> 1:4 = 1part +3parts (e.g. 2,5ml + 7,5ml)
and -> 1:2 = 1+1 (in that case some say 1:1, but it is not the adequate designation!)
moljul on Jun 10 2010, 12:21 PM said:
Prep! on Jun 9 2010, 11:25 PM said:
If I add 1 ml solution A to 1ml solution B I diluted it 2 times. So what do I say in ratios? 1:1 or 1:2 dilution????!!!!!!!
Similarly, if I added 1 ml solution A to 3 ml solution B I diluted it 4 times. What do I say 1:3 times or 1:4 dilution???!!!!
One of those days in science that people dread to have!!!!
you know: 1:10 = 1+9
therefore -> 1:4 = 1part +3parts (e.g. 2,5ml + 7,5ml)
and -> 1:2 = 1+1 (in that case some say 1:1, but it is not the adequate designation!)
tat precisely is my confusion.. how to represent such dilutions... can it be represented in ratios?? or just say 2 times of 4 times diluted!!!??!!
Prep! on Jun 9 2010, 11:53 PM said:
moljul on Jun 10 2010, 12:21 PM said:
Prep! on Jun 9 2010, 11:25 PM said:
If I add 1 ml solution A to 1ml solution B I diluted it 2 times. So what do I say in ratios? 1:1 or 1:2 dilution????!!!!!!!
Similarly, if I added 1 ml solution A to 3 ml solution B I diluted it 4 times. What do I say 1:3 times or 1:4 dilution???!!!!
One of those days in science that people dread to have!!!!
you know: 1:10 = 1+9
therefore -> 1:4 = 1part +3parts (e.g. 2,5ml + 7,5ml)
and -> 1:2 = 1+1 (in that case some say 1:1, but it is not the adequate designation!)
tat precisely is my confusion.. how to represent such dilutions... can it be represented in ratios?? or just say 2 times of 4 times diluted!!!??!!
i think i donīt really understand what youre problem is and particularly why it is that important!
good one.. i guess that explains my state of mind right now!!!!
was just trying to figure out how can i represent dilutions in ratios 
essentially if 1:10 = 1 part + 9 parts, then 10 does not represent B!!!! 
10 represents the total so its the ratio of A to total... i was wondering is it tat way or is ratio the ratio of A to B!!!
Hope i m clear now!! 
I have always thought of it as x parts of solute in x parts of total solution. Thus, 1 ml solution A (the solute) to 1ml solution B (the solvent) is a 1:2 dilution. Similarly, 1 ml solution A to 3 ml solution B is a 1:4 dilution, and results in 4 ml of a solution comprising one part of solution A for every three parts of solution B.
Think of it as "parts per total volume".
Well great! Now I'm confused!!
I had always thought of it as x amount of A for every x amount of B. As ratio of A to B, rather than amount of A in B.
So 1ml of A added to 1ml of B was a 1:1 ratio.
Or I would say A was diluted by a factor of 2 in B.
Don't mix dilution and ratio...
Ratio means you have x parts of A and y parts of B.
x : y
Dilution refers to the total volume.
x : (x+y)
well tat is wat brought me to this confusion at the first place hb.. mathematically a ratio is always between A and B and not between A and the total.. please correct me if i understand this wrong!!!
So this parts of A to the total cannot be termed ratio (the mathematical one). i get ur point thoguht.. i have also been using 1:2 and 1:4 till now but then suddenly today morning i had a greater vision may be!!! 
Chakchel on Jun 10 2010, 02:24 PM said:
Ratio means you have x parts of A and y parts of B.
x : y
Dilution refers to the total volume.
x : (x+y)
well iguess i can buy that cause tat is the theory i have been supporting till date... so a dilution can never be represented in ratios!!! hope moljul is clear about my problem and its importance too