ABSTRACT
Dilution always accompanies the formal process of diffusion, because the molecules in a diffusion process tend to spread out and occupy an ever-increasing volume. Dilution can be represented by at least two successive states in time: before and after. This chapter discusses deterministic successive dilution and stochastic dilution by using beaker experiments. It describes the development of successive random dilutions (SRD) theory. The SRD theory applies best to physical or chemical substances that do not participate in biological processes or chemical reactions. It may be viewed as a special case of Kapteyn’s Law of Proportional Effect. The SRD theory can be applied to a large variety of common environmental phenomena. Several examples are presented to illustrate these concepts. The chapter also includes exercise problems related to dilution of pollutants.
