Final answer:
To dilute stock solutions for medical applications such as IV solutions, a sterile solvent is used to attain the desired concentration, ensuring safety and efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When diluting stock solutions for irrigations, soaks, nutritional liquids, or other applications, the use of a solvent is necessary to achieve the desired concentration. In the case of medical applications, such as preparing IV solutions, it is critical to use a sterile solvent to maintain sterility and avoid potential infections. One commonly used sterile solvent is an IV bag of sterile solution, which when mixed with a measured amount of a more concentrated stock solution, like KCl, will dilute it to the proper concentration for patient administration.
For example, if the stock solution is 10.0% KCl and the desired final volume and concentration need to be 100 mL and 0.50%, respectively, healthcare professionals must calculate how much stock solution to use. This process of dilution ensures the safety and efficacy of the liquid preparation for therapeutic applications.