A dilution ratio question (What is 1:10) Poll please?

Two different types getting confused here.

Dilution Ratio

1:10 = add 1 unit to 10 units to give 11 units total

Dilution Factor

1:10 = add 1 unit to 9 units to give 10 units total
 
Meridian said:
I think some people are comparing "mix" with "dilute"? Mix 1:10 generally means 1 part of A plus 10 parts of B. "Dilute" generally means (and always to a scientist) make 1 part of A up to ten times the original volume with B (1+9 effectively). That said, a lot of instruction manuals are written by people with no scientific background, and who think the two terms have the same meaninhg
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Quite late to the discussion here it would seem this is the correct answer. They key is the terminology of mix vs dilute
 
This thread reminds me of this ridiculous term

Completely clear! :D

a4G9oKt.jpeg
 
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Noughtboy said:
Quite late to the discussion here it would seem this is the correct answer. They key is the terminology of mix vs dilute
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No, as DP pointed out the keywords are ratio or fraction.

Also the notation for ratio ":" is being abused a bit which has added to the confusion.

Dilution ratio 1:10 means 1 part to 10 (like any other ratio)

Dilution fraction 1/10 means 1 part out of 10 (like any other fraction)
 
413x said:
This thread reminds me of this ridiculous term

Completely clear! :D

a4G9oKt.jpeg
Click to expand...
Yep. This is ridiculous. Only encountered it once coming to the UK. I would imagine everywhere else in the world, it is twice a month. Same confusion ensued with bi-weekly but in that case, I understand it as every two weeks. At least bi-annual and biennial are different spelling to differentiate.


dowie said:
No, as DP pointed out the keywords are ratio or fraction.

Also the notation for ratio ":" is being abused a bit which has added to the confusion.

Dilution ratio 1:10 means 1 part to 10 (like any other ratio)

Dilution fraction 1/10 means 1 part out of 10 (like any other fraction)
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I will defer as that also makes sense
 
Which genius decided to express dilution factors in the same format as a ratio? :mad:

They could have just used a slash instead, so not only would it be a different notation, it'd be accurate as it'd turn it into a fraction.

*I want a wall bash smiley*
 
loftie said:
Which genius decided to express dilution factors in the same format as a ratio? :mad:

They could have just used a slash instead, so not only would it be a different notation, it'd be accurate as it'd turn it into a fraction.

*I want a wall bash smiley*
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emoji-head-banging.gif
ur welcome x

:edit: wow the transparency didn't work well. Meh oh well.
 
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danlightbulb said:
No it doesn't. It means 1 part X and 10 parts Y.

When you mix mortar at 4:1, it means 4 parts sand 1 part cement for a total of 5 parts.

Now if they said a concentration of 10%, then that would be 1:9.
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Work in a lab, 1:10 would mean 1 part to 9 parts. When you use : it tends to indicate a ratio.

vRVtBxyv_o.png
 
casper_uk said:
Work in a lab, 1:10 would mean 1 part to 9 parts. When you use : it tends to indicate a ratio.

vRVtBxyv_o.png
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See that sort of sloppiness is where the problem occurs - firstly the abuse of notation (using : instead of / ) and secondly that screenshot claims it's describing a "ratio" when what they've actually explained is a fraction. If you want "1:10" to actually mean a ratio of 1:9 then don't call it a ratio and don't use ":", use "/".
 
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