I said it last time but...
... most lab protocols use dilution factors (i.e. one in two) rather than dilution ratios (i.e. one to two).

If you wrote 1:2 in a protocol that I was given, I (and most other people) would assume a total volume that was twice the volume of the solute (i.e. equal volume of both). In that sense he was right, you can't have a solution with no solvent!

Are you sure you got the story the right way round, or could it be your wife that is the stupid colleague:-)
(silene, Wed 9 Mar 2011, 15:53, 2 replies)

I read the story the other way.
I thought it was his missus being described as having it wrong. I also thought that I would have done the same as her.
My limited recollection of this kind of thing makes me think he was right -- because I seem to remember some confusion when I encountered this.
I did drop out of both degrees I attempted though, and it was a while ago.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Wed 9 Mar 2011, 17:33, closed)

I also said this last time.
SVLA is right but it's an easy confusion as a fair few lab techs tend to use 1in rather than 1to but write it 1:
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 11:51, closed)