Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the primary function of a diluent in laboratory settings?

1. To increase viscosity

2. To preserve samples

3. To dilute substances

4. To enhance chemical reactions

The correct answer is: To dilute substances

The primary function of a diluent in laboratory settings is to dilute substances. Diluents are substances that are used to reduce the concentration of a solute in a solution. This is critical in many laboratory procedures, as it allows for the preparation of solutions at the desired concentrations for experiments, assays, or other analytical techniques. Using a diluent can also help achieve the appropriate conditions for various chemical reactions or biological assays while minimizing the chance of interference from high concentrations of reactants or analytes. Proper dilution is necessary to ensure accuracy and precision in measurements and observations. While options like preserving samples or enhancing chemical reactions are important considerations in laboratory practices, these functions are not the core purpose of a diluent. The primary role of a diluent remains to provide a means to achieve the desired dilution of a substance in a given context.