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Serial Dilution Formula:
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Serial dilution is a stepwise dilution of a substance in solution, where each step results in a fixed dilution factor relative to the previous concentration. This method is commonly used in chemistry, biology, and medical laboratories to obtain desired concentrations.
The calculator uses the serial dilution formula:
Where:
Explanation: The total dilution factor is the product of all individual dilution factors in a serial dilution series. For example, three 10-fold dilutions would have a total dilution factor of 10 × 10 × 10 = 1000.
Details: Accurate dilution calculations are essential for preparing solutions of precise concentrations, which is critical for experiments, medical tests, and pharmaceutical preparations.
Tips: Enter the initial concentration in mg/mL and the total dilution factor (must be ≥1). The calculator will determine the final concentration after all dilutions.
Q1: What's the difference between dilution factor and concentration?
A: The dilution factor is a multiplier describing how much the solution was diluted, while concentration is the actual amount of substance per unit volume.
Q2: How do I calculate individual dilution steps?
A: If you know the total dilution factor and number of steps, each step's factor is the nth root of the total (e.g., for 1000-fold in 3 steps, each step is 10-fold).
Q3: Can I use this for non-metric units?
A: Yes, as long as you maintain consistent units (e.g., μg/mL for both initial and final concentrations).
Q4: What if my dilution factor is less than 1?
A: Dilution factors must be ≥1 (indicating dilution, not concentration). For factors <1, you're actually concentrating the solution.
Q5: How precise should my measurements be?
A: Precision depends on your application. For critical work, use volumetric glassware and measure to at least 3 significant figures.