In laboratory settings, dilutions are often made to decrease the concentration of a solution. A 1 5 fold dilution means that one part of a substance is mixed with four parts of solvent, resulting in a total of five parts. For example, if you take 1 milliliter of a solution and add 4 milliliters of water, you have made a 1 5 fold dilution. This means the original concentration is reduced to one-fifth of its initial value.
On the other hand, a 2 5 fold dilution means that you take two parts of the original solution and mix them with three parts of solvent. Therefore, if you start with 2 milliliters of a solution and add 3 milliliters of water, you’ve created a 2 5 fold dilution. The concentration here is reduced to two-fifths of the original concentration.
To summarize:
- 1 5 fold dilution: 1 part solution + 4 parts solvent = 1/5 of original concentration.
- 2 5 fold dilution: 2 parts solution + 3 parts solvent = 2/5 of original concentration.