Question

How do you calculate the dilution factor? Give an example.

Answer 1

Dilution:

• Dilution is known as the process of decreasing the concentration of a solute in a solution, simply by mixing it with more solvent like adding more water to the solution.
• To dilute a solution basically means to add more solvent without the addition of more solute.

Dilution factor:

• Dilution Factor is the formula used for making a dilute solution without calculating concentrations from the concentration term formulas.
• The formula for dilution Factor is given by:

$\mathrm{Dilution}\mathrm{Factor}=\frac{\mathrm{Final}\mathrm{Volume}}{\mathrm{initial}\mathrm{Volume}}$

Example:

• Making $500\mathrm{mL}$ of a $1:250$ dilution:
• Formula used as $=\frac{\mathrm{Final}\mathrm{Volume}}{\mathrm{initial}\mathrm{Volume}}=\mathrm{DF}$
• By putting the values: = $\frac{\left(500\mathrm{mL}\right)}{\mathrm{initital}\mathrm{Volume}}=250(\mathrm{Dilution}\mathrm{Factor})$
• Hence, the Solute Volume =$\frac{500\mathrm{mL}}{250}=2.00\mathrm{mL}$

Therefore, the dilution factor can be calculated by using the above-mentioned formula as: $\mathrm{Dilution}\mathrm{Factor}=\frac{\mathrm{Final}\mathrm{Volume}}{\mathrm{initial}\mathrm{Volume}}$.