Calculate the volume of the aliquot: it is equal either to.To prepare a desired volume of solution of a given dilution: The Concentration Factor for this problem = aliquot volume/final volume = 0.1/(0.1 + 9.9) = 0.01 or 10 -2 concentration The dilution factor is equal to the final volume divided by the aliquot volume: 10 mL/0.1 mL = 1:100 dilution (10 2).The final volume is equal the the aliquot volume plus the diluent volume: 0.1 mL + 9.9 mL = 10 mL.Remember that the dilution factor is the final volume/aliquot volume.ĮXAMPLE: What is the dilution factor if you add 0.1 mL aliquot of a specimen to 9.9 mL of diluent? High dilutions are usually expressed exponentially ( i.e: a solution which has been diluted a million fold is termed a 10 6 dilution, or is 10 -6 concentration).Īliquot: a measured sub-volume of original sample.ĭiluent: material with which the sample is dilutedĭilution factor ( DF) : ratio of final volume/aliquot volume (final volume = aliquot + diluent)Ĭoncentration factor ( CF) : ratio of aliquot volume divided by the final volume (inverse of the dilution factor)

This requires a working knowledge of the principles of diluting, dilution factors, concentration factors and the calculations involved. Because solutions in science are often much more concentrated than are desired or can be managed for a given protocol, it is frequently necessary to dilute these solutions to a desired level.

Serial dilution example problems