Dilution Calculator

Calculate solution dilutions including final concentrations, required volumes, and dilution factors based on the dilution equation C₁V₁ = C₂V₂.

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Initial Concentration (mol/L)

Initial Volume (mL)

Final Concentration (mol/L)

Dilution Calculator

Calculate parameters for solution dilution based on the dilution equation: C₁V₁ = C₂V₂

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Calculating final volume needed to dilute a solution to a target concentration

Dilution is the process of decreasing the concentration of a solute in a solution by adding more solvent without adding more solute. This is a common laboratory procedure used in chemistry, biology, and medicine.

Dilution Formula

The fundamental equation for dilution calculations is:

C₁V₁ = C₂V₂

Where:

C₁ = Initial concentration
V₁ = Initial volume
C₂ = Final concentration
V₂ = Final volume

Applications of Dilution

Dilution is used in various laboratory and industrial applications:

Preparing solutions of desired concentrations from stock solutions
Sample preparation for analysis
Creating standard solutions for calibration curves
Medication preparation in medical settings
Adjusting the strength of reagents for specific reactions

Serial Dilution

Serial dilution involves a sequence of dilutions, each using the previous dilution as the starting point. This technique is especially useful when preparing solutions that span multiple orders of magnitude in concentration.

For a serial dilution with a dilution factor of D, after n dilution steps, the overall dilution is:

Final dilution = D^n

Concentration Units

Common concentration units used in dilution calculations include:

Molarity (mol/L)
Percentage solutions (w/v, v/v, w/w)
Parts per million (ppm)
Parts per billion (ppb)
Normality (equivalents/L)

When performing dilution calculations, it's crucial to use consistent units throughout the calculation and to account for any unit conversions that may be necessary.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The dilution equation is C₁V₁ = C₂V₂, where C₁ is the initial concentration, V₁ is the initial volume, C₂ is the final concentration, and V₂ is the final volume. This equation is based on the principle that the amount of solute remains constant during dilution.

To calculate the volume needed for a dilution, rearrange the dilution equation to solve for the unknown volume. For example, if you need to find the final volume (V₂), use the formula: V₂ = (C₁ × V₁) / C₂.

A serial dilution is a stepwise dilution where each subsequent dilution uses the previous dilution as its starting solution. It's commonly used to prepare a series of solutions with concentrations that decrease by a constant factor. For example, a 1:10 serial dilution would create concentrations of 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, etc.

Dilution is important in laboratory work for several reasons: it allows preparation of solutions with precise concentrations, helps in creating standard solutions for calibration curves, reduces concentration of samples to within the optimal range for analytical instruments, and conserves stock solutions which may be expensive or limited in quantity.

The dilution equation C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ works with any concentration unit as long as the same unit is used for both C₁ and C₂. For example, you can use molarity (mol/L), percentage (%), or parts per million (ppm), but you cannot mix different units in the same calculation without appropriate conversions.

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