Home
Back
Dilution Factor Formula:
| From: | To: |
The dilution factor (DF) is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of the final volume to the initial volume in a dilution process. It indicates how many times a solution has been diluted.
The calculator uses the dilution factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The dilution factor quantifies the extent of dilution by comparing the total volume after dilution to the original volume of the solution being diluted.
Details: Accurate dilution factor calculation is essential in laboratory settings for preparing solutions of desired concentrations, in pharmaceutical preparations, and in various chemical and biological experiments where precise dilution is required.
Tips: Enter both final volume and initial volume in liters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the dilution factor as a dimensionless quantity.
Q1: What does a dilution factor of 1 mean?
A: A dilution factor of 1 means no dilution has occurred - the final volume equals the initial volume.
Q2: How is dilution factor related to concentration?
A: The dilution factor is inversely proportional to concentration. If you dilute a solution by a factor of 10, the concentration becomes 1/10 of the original.
Q3: Can dilution factor be less than 1?
A: No, dilution factor cannot be less than 1 since final volume after dilution should always be greater than or equal to the initial volume.
Q4: What units should I use for volume measurements?
A: While the calculator uses liters, you can use any consistent volume units (mL, L, etc.) as long as both volumes are in the same units.
Q5: How does this differ from dilution ratio?
A: Dilution factor represents the total volume relative to the original volume, while dilution ratio typically expresses the ratio of solvent to solute (e.g., 1:10 means 1 part solute to 10 parts solvent).