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Serial Dilution Formula:
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Serial dilution is a stepwise dilution of a substance in solution. It's commonly used in laboratory settings to reduce the concentration of a sample by a consistent dilution factor at each step.
The calculator uses the serial dilution formula:
Where:
Explanation: Each dilution step reduces the concentration by the dilution factor, and this effect compounds with each additional step.
Details: Serial dilution is crucial in many laboratory procedures including microbiology, biochemistry, and clinical diagnostics. It allows for creating a range of concentrations from a single stock solution, which is essential for creating standard curves, determining unknown concentrations, and preparing samples for analysis.
Tips: Enter the initial concentration in mg/dL, the dilution factor (must be greater than 1), and the number of dilution steps. All values must be valid positive numbers.
Q1: What is a typical dilution factor used in laboratories?
A: Common dilution factors are 2, 5, or 10, but the appropriate factor depends on the specific application and desired concentration range.
Q2: How accurate are serial dilutions?
A: Accuracy depends on precise pipetting technique. Each dilution step introduces potential error, which compounds with additional steps.
Q3: When should I use serial dilution versus simple dilution?
A: Serial dilution is used when you need to create multiple concentrations that differ by the same factor. Simple dilution is used when you need only one specific dilution.
Q4: Can I use this calculator for concentrations in units other than mg/dL?
A: Yes, as long as you maintain consistent units throughout your calculations.
Q5: What's the maximum number of dilution steps that is practical?
A: Typically, more than 6-8 serial dilutions becomes impractical due to error accumulation and very low final concentrations.