1. What is the Dilution Formula?

The dilution formula calculates the final concentration of a solution after dilution. It's based on the principle that the amount of solute remains constant while the volume increases, resulting in a lower concentration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the dilution formula:

Where:

• \( C_1 \) — Initial concentration (M)
• \( DF \) — Dilution factor (unitless)
• \( C_2 \) — Final concentration (M)

Explanation: The dilution factor represents how many times the original solution is diluted. For example, a DF of 10 means the solution was diluted 10-fold.

3. Importance of Dilution Calculations

Details: Accurate dilution calculations are essential in laboratory work, pharmaceutical preparations, and chemical manufacturing to achieve desired concentrations for experiments or products.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the initial concentration in molarity (M) and the dilution factor (must be ≥1). The calculator will compute the final concentration after dilution.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if I know the volumes instead of dilution factor?
A: DF = (final volume) / (initial volume). For example, adding 9mL solvent to 1mL solution gives DF = 10.

Q2: Can I use other concentration units?
A: Yes, as long as C₁ and C₂ use the same units. The calculator defaults to molarity (M).

Q3: What's serial dilution?
A: Multiple successive dilutions where each step uses the previous dilution as its stock. The total DF is the product of individual DFs.

Q4: How precise should my measurements be?
A: Precision depends on application. Analytical work may require 4+ significant figures, while classroom experiments may need only 2.

Q5: What's the difference between dilution factor and fold dilution?
A: They're often used interchangeably, but technically DF is the mathematical factor (e.g., 10), while fold describes the process (e.g., 10-fold).