1. What is the Dilution Formula?

The dilution formula calculates the final concentration of a solution after dilution from a stock solution. It is based on the principle of conservation of mass, where the amount of solute remains constant before and after dilution.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the dilution formula:

Where:

• \( C_{final} \) — Final concentration after dilution (various units)
• \( C_{stock} \) — Concentration of stock solution (various units)
• \( V_{stock} \) — Volume of stock solution used (mL)
• \( V_{total} \) — Total volume after dilution (mL)

Explanation: The formula calculates how much the original concentration is reduced when a stock solution is diluted to a larger volume.

3. Importance of Dilution Calculations

Details: Accurate dilution calculations are essential in laboratory work, pharmaceutical preparations, chemical manufacturing, and various scientific experiments where precise concentrations are required.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter stock concentration in appropriate units, stock volume and total volume in mL. Ensure stock volume is less than or equal to total volume. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What units should I use for concentration?
A: The calculator works with any concentration units (mg/mL, M, %, etc.) as long as you maintain consistency between stock and final concentration units.

Q2: Can I use different volume units?
A: While the calculator uses mL, you can use any volume unit as long as both V_stock and V_total are in the same units.

Q3: What if my stock volume is greater than total volume?
A: This is not physically possible. The calculator requires V_stock ≤ V_total for valid dilution calculations.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically exact. Accuracy depends on the precision of your measurements and the quality of your stock solution.

Q5: Can this be used for serial dilutions?
A: This calculator handles single dilutions. For serial dilutions, you would need to perform multiple calculations, using the result of one dilution as the stock for the next.