How Aliquot Works

An aliquot is a section or part of a significant body used as a sample or test run for a scientific project. It ideally refers only to liquid tests done in error permitted measures of portions. The aliquot explanation is through a calculation.

To calculate an aliquot, you need to measure the quantity of the sample or specimen. The next step is to choose how you wish to divide it, the size you want to divide it into, and how many portions you need—for example, 20 cl of salt solution in six different bottles.

After you have done that, you need to divide the size or quantity of the sample or specimen by the portion you want. For example, 120/20, which will give you 6. You need to multiply the result with the answer from the subtraction of the original quantity from the sample.

Example of Aliquot

Since an aliquot identifies a sample of something bigger, it is easy to understand how it works.

If you have 100cl of a salt and water solution and your homework assignment reads that you only need to use 10 cl of the salt and water solution, you have to pour the salt and water solution into a 10 cl container. The 10 cl salt and water solution is a portion of the 100 cl salt and water solution. This portion refers to an aliquot.

Significance of Aliquot

In modern chemistry, the term aliquot is commonly used, that many people tend to undermine its significance. Here is a detailed guide to the importance of the term aliquot:

  1. Used as a means of identifying samples of a larger specimen: In science, when you refer to something as an aliquot of another, it is a part or portion of the main which you took out for a significant use or test.
  2. Allows a fair share of error or uncontrolled measurement: An aliquot of something is generally a portion of it with a permissible measurement error. Take, for instance, a jug of orange juice of 200 ml, two aliquot cups of orange juice do not have to be equal in measurement; they could measure 5 ml and 50 ml. They could both measure almost 60 ml each.
  3. Used only to identify a part of a liquid specimen: The aliquot is a term strictly reserved for liquid specimens of any type with no restriction.

History of Aliquot

The term aliquot is a late 16th-century word originating in France. It originates from a Latin word and has since been propagated in the science world. The French used it to identify a portion of a liquid experiment or specimen. The term was sectionalized only for use in the science world, primarily when discussing liquid specimens and tests. The term has always been so loosely used and has, over time, lost major significance beyond being a reoccurring term.