How To calculate the Dilution Factor

To calculate the dilution factor, you need two things: the original volume of the solution you dilute and the final volume after diluting (or the volume you have added to dilute, in which case the final volume will be the original volume plus the volume you have added). How to calculate dilution factor If you’re still asking yourself “how to find dilution factor?“, then, we hope this section will answer all of your questions. So, just follow the steps below if you are want to calculate dilution factor by hand: Find any two of the following three values: volume of the stock solution (stock), volume of the dilutant (dilutant), and total volume of the solution (total). This can either be done theoretically (before your experiment) or experimentally (after your experiment). Use the two volumes to find the third. Use this equation: stock dilutant = total. If you know which notation you would prefer to use (S:D or S:T), then you may not need this step, but we shall include it for completeness. Convert the numbers so that they are all in the same units. Decide which notation you require: S:D = set the values of the stock and dilutant amount as a ratio - stock:dilutant S:T = set the values of the stock and total amount as a ration - stock:total If required, cancel down the fractions by finding the Greatest Common Factor. We have already provided an example in the What is dilution factor?, so, please check that section if you are still wondering how to find dilution factor. We will, however, tell you how to calculate the volumes you need from the dilution factor: Choose your desired dilution factor, its notation (S:D or S:T) and one of the variables either side of the colon. Divide the number after the colon (D or T) by the number before the colon (S). We will name this value will be known as the factor. Use the following equations depending on your choice of notation: S:D = stock * factor = dilutant or dilutant / factor = stock S:T = stock * factor = total or total / factor = stock There you have it - we hope this solves any of your issues regarding dilution factors. You can always check your results with our dilution factor calculator, or just use it in the first place. Problem: What is the dilution factor if you add a 0.1 mL aliquot of a specimen to 9.9 mL of diluent? #CalculatingDilutionFactor #DilutingASample #DilutionCalculator #HowToDiluteASample #Aliquot #BiologyDilution #DilutionRatio #DilutionSampleProblems #NikolaysGeneticsLessons #dilutionProblems #dilutionChemistry #dilution #dilutionAndConcentration #dilutionAndMolarity #dilutionCalculations #dilutionAndConcentrationProblems #chemistry #dilutionExplained #dilutionEquation #dilutionExamples #dilutionExampleProblems #dilutionFormula #Molarity #explained