How to Use the Dilution Calculator
Select which variable you want to solve for using the "Solve For" buttons. Enter the three known values — the calculator will find the fourth using the C1V1 = C2V2 equation. Units must be consistent: if C1 and C2 are both in M, V1 and V2 must be in the same volume unit.
The Dilution Formula
C1 = Initial (stock) concentration | V1 = Volume of stock solution taken | C2 = Final (desired) concentration | V2 = Final total volume after dilution
The volume of diluent (solvent) to add = V2 − V1
Example Calculations
V1 = (C2 × V2) / C1
V1 = (1 × 100) / 10 = 10 mL
Add 10 mL HCl → make up to 100 mL.
C2 = (C1 × V1) / V2
C2 = (2 × 5) / 50 = 0.2 M
V2 = (C1 × V1) / C2
V2 = (100 × 2) / 10 = 20 mL
C1 = (C2 × V2) / V1
C1 = (0.5 × 50) / 10 = 2.5 M
About Solution Dilution in the Laboratory
Dilution is the process of reducing the concentration of a solute in a solution by adding more solvent. The C1V1 = C2V2 equation is the most fundamental formula in laboratory science, used daily for preparing working solutions from concentrated stocks.
This principle is applied across all areas of biotechnology: preparing antibody dilutions for Western blot, making agarose gels from stock TAE buffer, diluting DMSO stocks of drugs for cell culture assays, and setting up standard curves for ELISA experiments.