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Serial Dilution Formula:
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Serial dilution is a step-wise dilution of a substance in solution. It involves repeatedly diluting a portion of the previous solution to create a sequence of decreasing concentrations, commonly used in microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry.
The calculator uses the serial dilution formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the amount of diluent needed to achieve the desired total volume when a specific sample volume is transferred to the next dilution step.
Details: Serial dilution is essential for creating concentration gradients, quantifying microorganisms, preparing standard curves, and determining titers in various scientific and medical applications.
Tips: Enter total volume per step and sample volume transferred in mL. Ensure total volume is greater than sample volume for valid calculation.
Q1: What is the purpose of serial dilution?
A: Serial dilution is used to reduce the concentration of a sample in a stepwise manner, making it easier to work with highly concentrated samples and to create a range of concentrations for analysis.
Q2: How do I calculate dilution factor?
A: Dilution factor is calculated as total volume divided by sample volume (DF = V_t/V_s). Each step multiplies the overall dilution.
Q3: What types of diluents are commonly used?
A: Common diluents include distilled water, saline solution, buffer solutions, or growth media, depending on the application and sample type.
Q4: How many dilution steps should I perform?
A: The number of steps depends on the initial concentration and the desired final concentration. Typically, 5-10 steps are used for most applications.
Q5: What are common errors in serial dilution?
A: Common errors include inaccurate pipetting, improper mixing, carryover contamination, and miscalculation of volumes or dilution factors.