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š¬ Think about it
ORS works only if you add the right amount of salt and sugar to the water. Too little or too much, and it is no longer ORS. The exact proportion matters. That amount has a name — concentration. Let us understand it.
What is the concentration of a solution?
- It is the amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solvent or solution.
- The right proportion is always essential when making a solution.
- It matters in medicine, agriculture, food, cosmetics and daily life.
Example:
Farmers must mix the right amount of pesticide with water — too little fails to protect crops, too much harms them.
š¬ Meet a Scientist
- Dilip Mahalanabis was an Indian paediatrician.
- He first developed and used ORS to treat dehydration from diarrhoea and cholera.
- His ORS revolutionised rehydration therapy.
- After the WHO popularised it worldwide, it has saved millions of lives.
Important Definitions
- Concentration — the amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solvent or solution.
