Solution

A word used to describe a phase, which can be a liquid or a solid, containing a substance dissolved in a large volume/amount of a second substance. This second substance is commonly called the solvent.

Buffer solution
Primary standard solution
Standard solution

Buffer solution

A solution for which the pH value is relatively stable with respect to the addition of dilute acid or dilute base.

Primary standard solution

This is a solution whose composition is known to a high degree of accuracy, which is very stable and which can be successively diluted according to the needs of a particular analytical procedure.

Standard solution

A solution of accurately known composition used to calibrate measuring apparatus or to validate (check) a method of analysis.

For example, in colorimetry a standard solution is a solution of known concentration of the coloured product.

It is important that standard solutions do not readily decompose. Standard solutions should be stable nevertheless they should not be stored indefinitely.

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