Dilution

Dilution is a process of making a solution less concentrated by adding more of the solvent
(usually water) to it. Imagine you have a glass of orange juice that's too strong. To dilute it, you
add water to make it less concentrated and thus less strong.

In the laboratory, dilution involves adding a specific amount/volume of a solvent (water) to

usually a solution of known concentration to reduce its concentration.

You may use C1V1 = C2V2 to prepare your dilutions, where

C1 = concentration of solution (stock solution) to be used

C2 = concentration of solution you need to prepare
V1 = Volume of stock solution to used
V2 = Volume of solution you need to prepare

Let’s try some examples:

1. You have been given a stock solution of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with a concentration of
6 M. Prepare 100 mL of a 2 M HCl solution using the stock solution. Show all calculations.
C1 = 6 M
C2 = 2 M
V1 = unknown
V2 = 100 ml

Therefore, using C1V1 = C2V2,

6M x V1 = 2M x 100 ml

V1 = (2M x 100 ml)/6M

= 33.3 ml

Thus, to prepare 100 mL of a 2 M HCl solution, we will mix 33.3 ml of 6 M HCl solution
with 66.7 ml (100 ml- 3.3 ml) of water.

2. Your biology experiment requires 0.25 % sucrose solution, but you only have a stock
solution of 1 % sucrose. How would you prepare 75 mL of the desired solution using the stock
solution?

1|Dr S. Atchia
3. You have a glucose solution with a concentration of 0.4 M. Prepare 50 mL of solutions
with concentrations of (i) 0.2 M, (ii) 0.1 M, and (iii) 0.05 M. Clearly outline the dilution steps.

You will be required to use two main types of dilution in this syllabus, which we will refer to as
simple/basic dilution and serial dilution.

Dilution

Simple/Basic dilution Serial dilution

- is a technique where a - is a technique where a

concentrated solution is diluted to
produce a series of solutions with
decreasing concentrations.
-Each step involves using the
stock solution (provided solution of known
concentration) to wich specific amount of
solvent (water) is added to prepare the
diluted series of solutions.
-The dilution factor for each step is
usually different
- Use C1V1 = C2V2
- For example: Given a stock
solution of 10% glucose solution, prepare
glucose solutions of 8%, 6%, 4% and 2%.
The dilution factors are not the
same. Calculate the diluion factors
concentrated solution is repeatedly
diluted in a sequential manner to
produce a series of solutions with
decreasing concentrations.
- Each step in the sequence
involves taking a portion of the previous
solution and diluting it further.
-The dilution factor is the same
for each step.
-For example: Given a stock
solution of 10% glucose solution,
prepare glucose solutions of 5%, 2.5%,
1.25% and 0.625%.
The dilution factors are the
same. Calculate the dilution factor.

2|Dr S. Atchia
 Practical 1 2024: Serial dilution

In this experiment, you will prepare a serial dilution of starch suspensions and test the same
with iodine solution.

Materials: 5 test tubes, 1 beaker, Iodine solution, 1% Starch suspension, syringes, dropper.

Procedure:

1. Make a serial dilution of starch suspension as follows:

(a) Place five clean test-tubes in a rack and label them 1-5.

(b) Using a syringe, place 2 cm3 1% starch suspension in tube 1.

(c) Transfer 2 cm3 of the 1% starch suspension in a small beaker and add 2 cm3 of water. After
mixing the content, transfer 2 cm3 of the mixture into tube 2.

(d) Then add 2 cm3 of water in the beaker containing 2 cm3 mixture prepared in step (c). After
mixing the content, transfer 2 cm3 of the mixture into tube 3.

(e) Then add 2 cm3 of water in the beaker containing 2 cm3 mixture prepared in step (d). After
mixing the content, transfer 2 cm3 of the mixture into tube 4.

(f) Place 2 cm3 of water in tube 5.

2. Complete the dilution table below:

Test tube Starch Volume of starch Volume of water/

concentration/% suspension / cm3 cm3
1 1 2 cm3 of 1% solution 0

3. Add 1 drop of iodine solution to each tube and shake to mix. You can add more
iodine to each tube, if you think it will make any difference, so long as you add an
equal number of drops to each. But do not exceed more than 4 drops.
4. Record your results in the given table below.

3|Dr S. Atchia
 Strength of solution optical density (use 0
Starch
Colour after adding iodine for brown/yellow and 5 for darkest blue
concentration/%
black)

5. Sketch a graph of optical density against starch concentration.

6. Name the independent, dependent and 2 controlled variables.

Independent variable ………………………………………………………………………..,

Dependent variable ………………………………………………………………………….,

Controlled variables………………………………………………………………………..,

………………………………………………………………………..,

7. Explain your graph as full as possible.

4|Dr S. Atchia
 Practical 2 2024: Simple dilution

In this experiment, you will prepare a set of starch suspensions and test the same with iodine
solution.

Materials: 6 test tubes, Iodine solution, 1% Starch suspension, syringes, dropper.

Procedure:

1. Label 6 test tubes A-F

2. Add 4 cm3 of 1% starch suspension in test tube A.
3. Fill in the dilution table below to show how you will use simple dilution technique to
prepare starch suspensions of concentrations 0.8%, 0.6%, 0.4%, and 0.2%. (hint: use
C1V1 = C2V2). Show your working.

Test Tube Starch Volume of 1% Starch Volume of distilled

concentration suspension /cm3 water/ cm3
(%)
A 1 4 0
B 0.8
C 0.6
D 0.4
E 0.2
F 0

4. Place 4 cm3 of 0.8%, 0.6%, 0.4%, and 0.2% starch suspensions in test tube B-E
respectively
5. Place 4 c m3 of water in test tube F.
6. Add 1 drop of iodine solution to each tube and shake to mix. You can add more iodine to
each tube, if you think it will make any difference, so long as you add an equal number
of drops to each. But do not exceed more than 4 drops.
7. Record your results in the given table below.

5|Dr S. Atchia
 Strength of solution optical density (use 0
Starch
Colour after adding iodine for brown/yellow and 5 for darkest blue
concentration/%
black)

8. Sketch a graph of optical density against starch concentration.

6|Dr S. Atchia