Originally posted by Badly Shaved Monkey
MAS, let's say you have a 1ml of 1 molar solution of Na2SO4 solution. In 1 litre you would have 6.022 x 1023 of each of the component moieties of Na2SO4. In 100ml you will have 6.022 x 1022.
If you want to use this as the basis for your next 1 in 100 dilution you will draw 1ml into a pipette and add 99ml water.
If the solution was well-mixed when you drew up that 1ml it will contain 6.022 x 1020 of each of the components of Na2SO4.
You have suggested that there may be some other number drawn up.
How many? What are the chances that the aspirate will contain a number substantially different from 6.022 x 1020?
Just in case this got buried under all the banter.
(Actually, BSM, that will be 2 x 6.022 x 1020 sodium ions, plus 6.022 x 1020 sulphate ions. So perhaps we should just concentrate on the sulphate ions for now.)
Mas, you may recall that in one of my posts that you didn't reply to, I went through the quesiton of pipetting accuracy. I pointed out that part of the homoeopathic procedure is succussion, which even at its least vigorous pretty much guarantees a more or less uniform mixing of the solution. I also pointed out that pipetting accuracy is something which is well understood, and that a careful worker should be able to manage less than 2% variation, while even a rather careless operator will still manage 5%.
So, given these facts, what are the chances that the 1ml that BSM is talking about will contain more than 6.323 x 1020 sulphate ions, or less than 5.721 x 1020? If you repeat the procedure 10 times, what are the chances that all 10 repetitions will all contain more than 6.022 x 1020 sulphate ions?