1. What is Dilution Factor?

The Dilution Factor (DF) is a ratio that describes how much a solution has been diluted. It represents the factor by which the original concentration has been reduced to reach the final concentration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple dilution formula:

Where:

• \( C1 \) — Initial concentration (M)
• \( C2 \) — Final concentration (M)
• \( DF \) — Unitless dilution factor

Explanation: The equation calculates how many times more concentrated the original solution is compared to the diluted solution.

3. Importance of Dilution Factor

Details: Dilution factors are crucial in laboratory work, pharmaceutical preparations, and analytical chemistry to ensure proper solution concentrations for experiments and applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both concentrations in molarity (M). The initial concentration (C1) must be greater than the final concentration (C2). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can the dilution factor be less than 1?
A: No, a proper dilution factor is always ≥1. If C1 < C2, this indicates concentration rather than dilution.

Q2: How is dilution factor related to dilution ratio?
A: A DF of 10 means a 1:10 dilution (1 part stock + 9 parts diluent). The dilution ratio is 1:(DF-1).

Q3: What's the difference between DF and fold dilution?
A: They are essentially the same - a DF of 5 means a 5-fold dilution.

Q4: Can I use different concentration units?
A: Yes, as long as both concentrations use the same units, the DF will be correct.

Q5: How do I prepare a dilution from a DF?
A: Divide the desired final volume by the DF to get the volume of stock solution needed, then add diluent to reach final volume.