Serial dilution is a process used in the laboratory to make a range of solutions with decreasing concentrations from an original stock solution. It involves repeatedly diluting a solution with a known concentration to create a series of solutions with lower and lower concentrations.
For example, let's say we have an initial stock solution of a substance with a concentration of 10% (w/v). We want to prepare a series of solutions with concentrations of 5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, and 0.625%. To achieve this, we can perform a serial dilution as follows:
1. Take 1 mL of the stock solution and transfer it to a new container (e.g., a test tube) containing 9 mL of a diluent (e.g., water or a buffer solution). This 1:10 dilution results in a solution with a concentration of 1%.
2. Take 1 mL of the 1% solution and transfer it to another container containing 9 mL of diluent. This 1:10 dilution results in a solution with a concentration of 0.1% (10 times more diluted than the previous solution).
3. Repeat step 2 two more times, each time taking 1 mL of the previous solution and transferring it to 9 mL of diluent. This will result in further dilutions of 0.01% and 0.001% (or 10^-2% and 10^-3%, respectively).
By following this serial dilution process, we have successfully prepared a series of solutions with decreasing concentrations from the initial 10% stock solution. These solutions can then be used for various experiments or tests that require different concentrations of the substance.
What is serial dilution and provide an example you might use in the laboratory
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