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Understanding the Dilution Equation C1V1 = C2V2
Formula
The dilution equation C1V1 = C2V2 is one of the most frequently used formulas in chemistry and biology laboratories. It relates the concentration and volume of a stock solution to the concentration and volume of the diluted solution.
This equation works because the number of moles of solute remains constant during dilution — only solvent is added. By rearranging the equation, you can solve for any unknown variable when the other three are known.
Common use cases:
- Laboratory solution preparation
- Pharmaceutical compounding
- Serial dilution series
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. David Park
Applied Mathematician, PhD Mathematics
David holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from MIT. He has published research on numerical methods and computational algorithms used in engineering and scientific calculators.
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