1. What is Serial Dilution?

Serial dilution is a stepwise dilution of a substance in solution. It's commonly used in microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry to reduce the concentration of a solution by consistent dilution factors.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the serial dilution formula:

Where:

• \( C_t \) — Final concentration (M)
• \( C_0 \) — Initial concentration (M)
• \( DF \) — Dilution factor (unitless)
• \( n \) — Number of dilutions (unitless)

Explanation: Each dilution step reduces the concentration by the dilution factor. After n dilutions, the concentration is reduced by DF raised to the power of n.

3. Importance of Serial Dilution

Details: Serial dilutions are essential for creating solutions of precise concentrations, especially when working with highly concentrated stock solutions or when creating standard curves for analytical measurements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the initial concentration in molarity (M), the dilution factor (typically 10 for standard serial dilutions), and the number of dilution steps. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical dilution factor?
A: Common dilution factors are 10 (1:10) or 2 (1:2), but any factor can be used depending on the application.

Q2: How accurate is serial dilution?
A: Accuracy depends on precise measurement techniques. Each dilution step compounds any measurement errors.

Q3: When should I use serial dilution?
A: Use when you need to create solutions across several orders of magnitude or when preparing standard concentrations for calibration curves.

Q4: What's the difference between serial and parallel dilution?
A: Serial dilution uses the output of one dilution as the input for the next, while parallel dilution dilutes the original sample separately each time.

Q5: How do I choose the number of dilutions?
A: Choose based on the range of concentrations needed and the detection limits of your assay.