4: Serial Dilutions
Students design multi-step dilution series to reach high overall dilution factors, calculate effective dilution factors across linked steps, and explain why serial dilutions improve accuracy and save materials compared to one large dilution.
Aliquot Volumes for Serial Dilutions
Click to show Aliquot Volumes for Serial Dilutions example problem
Using a previous diluted sample at DF=200, create a new dilution with a final dilution of DF=320 and a total volume of 880 μL.
What volume of aliquot in microliters (μL) do you add to distilled water to make the dilution?
Note: answers need to be within 1% of the correct number to be correct.
Diluent Volumes for Serial Dilutions
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Using a previous diluted sample at DF=80, create a new dilution with a final dilution of DF=180 and a total volume of 720 μL.
What volume of diluent in microliters (μL) do you add to the aliquoted sample?
Note: answers need to be within 1% of the correct number to be correct.
Serial Dilution Factors
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Using a previous diluted sample at DF=160, create a new dilution with a final dilution of DF=360.
How much liquid do you add to make a total of 450 μL?