School for Applied Biosciences and Chemistry

Lab calculations1

Week 2 Dilutions
Programme Lab calculations1
week topic

1 Concentrations part 1

2 Dilutions part 1

3 Average, variation and error analysis

4 Mole and molar mass

5 Molecular and empirical formulas

6 Concentrations and dilutions part 2

7 Repeat topics term 1

Lab calculations week 2: Dilutions
Diluting = adding solvent to a solution
What happens to quantities?

Quantity Smaller, same or larger?

Volume
Mass of component
Molecules of component
Concentration
What happens to quantities?

Quantity Smaller, same or larger?

Volume Larger
Mass of component Same
Molecules of component Same
Concentration Smaller
Why dilute a solution?
Prepare a solution of 0.1 µg/L.

Problem:
Minimum amount is 100 mg using an
analytical balance
To prepare a 0.1 µg/L solution you need to
weigh 100 mg and dissolve it in 106 L

Solution to the problem: diluting!!

Calculation with dilution

Vbefore ∙ cbefore = Vafter ∙ cafter

because:
mbefore = mafter
or:
nbefore = nafter

FJM Albers & FAJG Geurts – Chemisch rekenen MLO; 1998, Educatieve Partners Nederland BV, Houten; ISBN 9040108668
Calibration series
• Series of solution with different
concentrations
• Prepared from stock solution

• To make calibration curve:

http://www.exo.science.ru.nl/bronnen/biologie/smart.html
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/273320007_fig1_Figure-1-Calibration-curve-of-ondansetron-HCl-reference-
standard-in-01-N-HCl
Calculations for calibration series
Prepare a table like:
final final volume (mL) volume stock volume demi
concentration BSA solution water (mL)
(mg/mL) 10 g/mL BSA (mL)
0 5.00
200 5.00
400 5.00
600 5.00
800 5.00
1000 5.00

V1 ∙ c1 = V2 ∙ c2
Calculations for calibration series
Prepare a table like:
final final volume (mL) volume stock volume demi
concentration BSA solution water (mL)
(mg/mL) 10 g/mL BSA (mL)
0 5.00 0.00 5.00
200 5.00 0.10 4.90
400 5.00 0.20 4.80
600 5.00 0.30 4.70
800 5.00 0.40 4.60
1000 5.00 0.50 4.50

V1 ∙ c1 = V2 ∙ c2
Dilution series
Series of solutions in declining concentrations
Prepared by diluting previous solution

http://biology.kenyon.edu/courses/biol09/tetrahymena/serialdilution3.htm
Dilution factor
dilute 1 : 9 = dilute 10-fold or 10×

𝑉𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟
dilution factor =
𝑉𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒

𝑐𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒
dilution factor =
𝑐𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟
Homework
• Chapter 2
• Assignments 1 – 4 (level 1)
• Assignments 5 – 8 (level 2)
• Assignments 9 – 12 (level 3)