Jun 24, 2008 20:39
15 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
dissolve in and dilute with water
Homework / test
English
Medical
Medical: Pharmaceuticals
metallic impurities in heavy metals
Test Preparation - into a 50-mL color comparison tube place 25 mL of the solution prepared for the test as directed in the individual monograph; or, using the designated volume of acid where specified in the individual monograph, **dissolve in and dilute with water** to 25 mL the quantity, in g, iof the substance to be tested, as calculated by the formula: ...
From a section on a test "provided to demonstrate that the content of metallic impurities does not exceed the heavy metals limit.
Is from a test we wrote at the university. Doesn't "dissolve in and dilute with water" mean that the substance to be tested is to be dissolved in water in the presence of acid? Why does my professor insist that it is wrong if the translated version (into German) says that the substance is being dissolved in water (in the presence of an acid). Is there a typo here in the English?
Thanks,
Anu
From a section on a test "provided to demonstrate that the content of metallic impurities does not exceed the heavy metals limit.
Is from a test we wrote at the university. Doesn't "dissolve in and dilute with water" mean that the substance to be tested is to be dissolved in water in the presence of acid? Why does my professor insist that it is wrong if the translated version (into German) says that the substance is being dissolved in water (in the presence of an acid). Is there a typo here in the English?
Thanks,
Anu
Responses
| 4 +3 | dissolve in water and take to volume |
Marie-Hélène Hayles
|
Responses
+3
20 mins
Marie-Hélène Hayles
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
medicine - chemistry - pharmaceuticals
Native in: English
Works in: Italian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
Selected
dissolve in water and take to volume
Your professor is absolutely right. If I rephrase it as "dissolve in water and take to 25 ml volume", you should see that it makes perfect sense - and it's saying exactly the same thing in a different way.
I think I can see why you're insisting that it means "in the presence of acid" though - it's the clause "or, using the designated quantity of acid where specified..."
But that "where specified" means that in some cases there may not be any acid used at all - and so you can't translate it as "in the presence of acid". At best, you could rephrase the whole thing as "dissolve in and dilute with water in the presence of the designated volume of acid, if any, specified in the monograph" - but this would be more confusing than the sentence as it stands.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2008-06-25 06:04:21 GMT)
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Just seen your note - that is exactly what the sentence is saying. Both the original sentence and my rephrasing avoid repetition of the word "water", but it is implicit and unambiguous in both cases - "dissolve in (water) and dilute with water" or "dissolve in water and take to volume (with water).
The sentence as it stands cannot be taken to mean that the substance should be dissolved in acid and diluted with water.
I think I can see why you're insisting that it means "in the presence of acid" though - it's the clause "or, using the designated quantity of acid where specified..."
But that "where specified" means that in some cases there may not be any acid used at all - and so you can't translate it as "in the presence of acid". At best, you could rephrase the whole thing as "dissolve in and dilute with water in the presence of the designated volume of acid, if any, specified in the monograph" - but this would be more confusing than the sentence as it stands.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2008-06-25 06:04:21 GMT)
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Just seen your note - that is exactly what the sentence is saying. Both the original sentence and my rephrasing avoid repetition of the word "water", but it is implicit and unambiguous in both cases - "dissolve in (water) and dilute with water" or "dissolve in water and take to volume (with water).
The sentence as it stands cannot be taken to mean that the substance should be dissolved in acid and diluted with water.
Note from asker:
| Thanks for replying. Forgot to specify. Apparently this means that the substance should be dissolved in acid and diluted with water. I believe the sentence is saying that the substance is to be dissolved in water and diluted with water. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
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