diluted / dissolved

Question

Question 1:Our noses are capable of detecting human smells even when these are  to far below one part in one million.[A]diluted [B]dissolved [C]determining[D]diffusedThe answer is A, but I don't know why. Could you please tell me?Question 2:Her job is to take back home the cow to milk.Her job is to take home come to milk.Which one is better?Question 3:What are the difference between 'elementary school' and 'primary school'?Question 4;What's the difference between 'rule' and 'regulation'?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Question 1:

Our noses are capable of detecting human smells even when these are to far below one part in one million.

[A]diluted [B]dissolved [C]determining[D]diffused

The answer is A, but I don't know why. 'To dilute' means to reduce the strength, by adding something, eg air or water. 'To diffuse' means to spread something oyt, eg light diffuses. 'To dissolve' is to change or disappear, eg to become a liquid. A is the best choice.

Question 2:

Her job is to take back home the cow to milk.

Her job is to take home come to milk.

Which one is better? Neither. I think there's a typo(come) in the second one. You need to say Her job is to take the cow back home to milk.

Question 3:

What are the difference between 'elementary school' and 'primary school'?

'Elementary' means easy. 'Primary' means first. It's just 2 names for the same thing. Both names are used, no difference.

Question 4;

What's the difference between 'rule' and 'regulation'?

A rule is a more general term. I have a rule that I get up everyday before 7.30am. I made that rule myuself.

Generally speaking, a regulation sounds more official, made by some person or group that have authority, like the government. eg There is a regulation that you must supply 3 forms of ID to get a passport.

Best wishes, Clive

Paco2004 · Answer

I agree with Clive about the answers. But I'm wondering whether it is true that human noses are capable of detecting human smells at levels as low as parts per million. By the way, what substances are human smells actually? Channel 5 or Paco Rabanne?

paco

Hly2004 · Answer

Thank you all!

Clive, Your explanations are so good, you're my best teacher here!!

Kajjo · Answer

Hi paco!
Certainly, the human nose can detect very many smells in dilutions lower than parts per million, many in parts per billion, and at least several at concentrations lower than parts per trillion. Human smells are not that exceptionally, though. However, science discovered the existence of the "vomeronasal organ" that is supposed to have the purpose of detecting pheromones (chemicals used for communication) in extremely low concentrations and is believed to have a direct link to the brain to unconsciously convey receptions as in contrast to smells as we know them.However, whether such receptions are actually important to the modern human species is discussed somewhat controversely, while several other mammal species rely on such pheromones intensively.

To the title question and to Clive:
In the kind of chemical context implied by the title sentence, "dissolves" would mean a process like putting a cube of sugar into water and producing a clear solution of sugar in water. In contrast, the explanation given by "becoming a liquid" would also apply to warming up a cube of ice producing water, but this process is just called melting and has nothing to do with dissolving a substance. Given the mentioned clear solution of sugar in water, adding more water would "dilute" the solution.

Kajjo

(warning: non-native speaker, but research chemist)

diluted / dissolved

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