An aliquot is linked to a proportion.
Before entering fully into clarifying the meaning of the term aliquot , what we are going to do is discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can indicate that it derives from Latin, more specifically from the word “aliquot”, which can be translated as “a certain number of”. This, in turn, is the result of the sum of two clearly differentiated parts: “alius”, which means “other”, and “quot”, which is “how much”.
It is an adjective that refers to that which is proportional : that is, it is linked to a proportion (the correspondence that exists between the parts of something or between said parts and the whole).
The aliquot part
The most common use of the concept of aliquot is linked to the aliquot part , which is responsible for accurately measuring the whole (the whole is divided into equal parts). An aliquot, therefore, is a part of the total.
One of the moments where the term aliquot is most commonly used is when someone has died and their lawyer and notary are going to be in charge of carrying out the distribution of their inheritance. In that case, it is established that it will be divided into aliquots and each of these will correspond to one of your heirs. In this way, it is established that, as a general rule, what usually happens with the wealth left by someone who has died is that they are divided into aliquots. What this means is that they are equal and proportional portions.
The rates are used to determine tax obligations.
The concept in taxes
The idea of aliquot is frequently used in the field of economics , more precisely in what is related to taxes or tributes . The rates are proportions that are established through laws to determine a tax obligation.
In Argentina , for example, many products are taxed with Value Added Tax ( VAT ). The VAT rate , at a general level, is 21% . In this way, a manufacturer must add 21% VAT to the price it establishes for its products.
A producer decides on a price of 50 pesos for a pair of pants. When offering the product to the public, the VAT rate ( 21% ) is added. Therefore, the buyer must pay 60.5 pesos (the 50 pesos of the price plus the 10.5 pesos of VAT ).
The laboratories and the aliquots
In laboratories , the notion of aliquot is used with reference to the part of a mass or volume that is taken to perform a test. The properties of that aliquot must represent the properties of the total substance.
A 1 liter solution can be divided into four 250 milliliter ( 0.25 liter ) aliquots. Each of these aliquots must have the same chemical and physical properties as the original sample.
As a general rule, within this scientific field, when an aliquot is to be taken, it is something that is done with a pipette that is properly graduated. In this way, the necessary and appropriate measurement will be achieved. Furthermore, in this case we have to highlight the existence of different types of aliquots such as, for example, solid aliquots and liquid aliquots, among many others.