HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is a diluent used for?

1. To enhance the flavor of a solution

2. To add nutrients to a medication

3. To dilute the strength of a solution

4. To increase the viscosity of a liquid

The correct answer is: To dilute the strength of a solution

A diluent is primarily used to dilute the strength of a solution, making this choice the most accurate. In pharmaceuticals and various laboratory settings, a diluent is often a liquid that reduces the concentration of an active ingredient in a solution. This process is important for ensuring proper dosing, improving stability, or making a solution easier to handle and administer. For example, in medication preparation, a strong solution might be too concentrated for safe administration, so a diluent is used to adjust the concentration to a more suitable level. This is essential in ensuring that patients receive the correct dosage without risking potential side effects from a more concentrated formulation. The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of a diluent: enhancing flavor pertains to taste modification; adding nutrients relates to nutrition supplements or food products; and increasing viscosity is about thickening a liquid, which may involve different substances altogether.