Experimental data & uncertainty · SL/HL
Serial dilution
Track concentration through repeated dilution steps.
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Number formats & units
Use decimal dots in datasets. Single values also accept decimal commas and scientific notation such as 1.2e-3 or 1.2 × 10⁻³.
Calculated locally. No account or input upload.
Result & working
ExampleThe calculator is loading. The worked example is also shown below.
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Interpretation & assumptions
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Formula & example
The relationship
What the variables mean
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| factor | For a 1:10 dilution, enter 10. |
Worked example
- Starting concentration
- 1
- Dilution factor per step
- 10
- Number of dilution steps
- 5
- Concentration unit
- arbitrary units
0.00001 arbitrary units
Follow the example steps
- Cₙ = C₀/factorⁿ = 1/10^5 = 0.00001 arbitrary units
Common mistakes
A 1:10 dilution divides the concentration by ten at each step.
Incorrect approach
C₀ = 1, f = 10, n = 2: C = 1 × 0.9² = 0.81
Correct approach
C = 1/10² = 0.01 mol dm⁻³
More checks before you submit
- A 1:10 dilution means one tenth of the previous concentration, not subtracting 10%.
Method notes
The calculator reports the nominal concentration sequence. Actual accuracy still depends on pipetting and mixing.