How to dilute a stock solution when the resulting solution has a smaller volume? [closed]








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> 
> Describe how you would dilute $2.0~\mathrm{L}$ of a $0.85~\mathrm{mol/L}$ magnesium hydroxide stock solution to make $200.0~\mathrm{mL}$ of $0.30~\mathrm{mol/L}$ magnesium hydroxide. 
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I know the $$c\_1 V\_1 = c\_2 V\_2$$ formula and that magnesium hydroxide's molar mass is $58.32~\mathrm{g/mol}$. However, I am confused because $V\_2$ is lower than $V\_1$. 




Maybe the question was posed this way to make you think practically. 


Approach this problem as if you were in a lab and you actually had a bottle of $2.0~\mathrm{L}$ of a $0.85~\mathrm{mol/L}$ magnesium hydroxide stock solution, and you wanted to make a new solution of $200.0~\mathrm{mL}$ of $0.30~\mathrm{mol/L}$ magnesium hydroxide.


You do not need to dilute the entire stock, but just a portion of the stock solution. Describe what volume of stock solution you would take out, and how you would dilute it, using the $$c\_1 V\_1 = c\_2 V\_2$$ formula, to reach $200.0~\mathrm{mL}$ of $0.30~\mathrm{mol/L}$ of magnesium hydroxide.


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