Litmus test (politics) Litmus test (politics) A litmus test is a question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which would determine whether the nominating official would proceed with the appointment or nomination. The expression is a metaphor based on the litmus test in chemistry, in which one is able to test the general acidity of a substance, but not its exact pH. Those who must approve a nominee, such as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, may also be said to apply a litmus test to determine whether the nominee will receive their vote.
Stock solution Stock solution A stock solution is a concentrated solution that will be diluted to some lower concentration for actual use. Stock solutions are used to save preparation time, conserve materials, reduce storage space, and improve the accuracy with which working lower concentration solutions are prepared. In chemistry, a stock solution is a large volume of common reagent, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide, at a standardized concentration. This term is commonly used in analytical chemistry for procedures such as titrations, where it is important that exact concentrations of solutions are used. Stock solutions do not necessarily come in concentrations