Dilution and concentration theory dilution and concentration theory sounds ominous but you use dilutions and concentrations fairly frequently outside of your scientific life. Jun 01, 20 the resulting serial dilution series has a dilution factor of approximately 1. How to calculate the amount of bacteria present sciencing. That problem can be overcome by practicing in advance of the need. Diagram a series of twofold, fivefold, and tenfold dilutions using four tubes. Each dilution will reduce the concentration of bacteria by a specific. Dilutions are useful in science when making solutions or growing an acceptable number of bacterial colonies to count.
Note that serial dilution is a special case of series of dilutions. The following is a stepbystep procedure to working dilution problems, and includes some practice problems at the end. Since the dilution fold is the same in each step, the dilutions are a geometric series constant ratio between any adjacent dilutions. For each of the dilution series, calculate the number of virus particles.
The exercise will allow students to learn how to pipette, dilute samples and calculate the concentration of their samples. To this end, serial dilution and plating techniques are typically employed to reliably quantify bacterial load and isolate individual colonies. Most specimens have high enough numbers of microorganisms that the specimen has to be serially diluted to quantitate effectively. Dilution factor practice problem to dilute a bacterial culture, 50. Serial dilutions a serial dilution is any dilution where the concentration decreases by the same quantity in each successive step.
Dilution worksheet and problems biology libretexts. For example, when you are making orange juice from a frozen concentrate, you mix 1 can of concentrate with 3 cans of water. This tutorial describes how dilutions are made from stock solutions, and how to calculate the volume of stock solution required for a given final concentration. Dilutions and concentrations introductory chemistry 1st. We will give you a useful formula for making dilutions, one that you may have seen before. The following is a brief explanation of some ways of calculating dilutions that are common in biological science and often used at quansys biosciences.
The number of dilutions, n, can be computed using natural logarithm. When a drop of culture containing a small number of bacteria is plated and incubated, each cell theoretically will be far enough away from other cells that it will form its own colony. The source of dilution material solute for each step comes from the diluted material of the previous dilution step. The easiest method is to make a series of 1 in 10 dilutions.
Key is licensed under a creative commons attributionnoncommercialsharealike 4. Once again, heres an applet to practice finding the total dilution scheme, regardless of how the dilution scheme is expressed as directions, as fractions, or as decimals. A serial dilution is simply a series of simple dilutions which amplifies the dilution factor quickly beginning with a small initial quantity of material i. The design addresses a problem when a very limited number of aliquots are available for proliferation. Serial dilutions practical as biology serial dilution calculations biology exam question help biology help can anyone break down the peeled potato test to me biology investigating effect of inhibitor on enzyme serial dilution and batch fermenters. Lab math solutions, dilutions, concentrations and molarity.
It is a common practice to determine bacterial counts for both liquid and solid specimenssuspensions of e. But sometimes the dilution takes on another meaning, that somehow because more shares are being used for the ownership of the same company, that maybe these shares are worth less. Serial dilution many procedures performed in modern biology and chemistry laboratories require sets of solutions that cover a range of concentration s. The resulting serial dilution series has a dilution factor of approximately 1. Serial dilution is a process through which the concentration of an organism, bacteria in this example, is systematically reduced through successive resuspension in fixed volumes of liquid diluent. From rearranging the equation that defines molarity, we know that the moles of solute equals the molarity times the volume.
Dilution is a decrease in a solutions concentration, whereas concentration is an increase in a solutions concentration. This chemistry video tutorial explains how to solve common dilution problems using a simple formula using concentration or. In microbiology, serial dilutions log dilutions are used to decrease a bacterial concentration to a required concentration for a specific test method, or to a concentration which is easier to count when plated to an agar plate. There are three formulas used to work microbiology dilution problems. Serial dilution is one of the core foundational practices of homeopathy, with succussion, or shaking, occurring between each dilution. Utilize the worksheet to identify the more important study. Calculating the moles of solute from molarity times volume will be very useful in other areas of chemistry, particularly acid base. Serial dilutions austin community college district.
Dilutions part 3 of 4 calculating colony forming unitsml. Test your knowledge of the properties of serial dilution by using this interactive quiz. In serial dilutions, you multiply the dilution factors for each step. A serial dilution is a series of sequential dilutions used to reduce a dense culture of cells to a more usable concentration. If students are not familiar with operating pipettes, the pre lab serial dilutions practice exercise is recommended. A serial dilution is any dilution in which the concentration decreases by the same factor in each successive step. Answers serial dilutions practice worksheet biol 307.
Determine how many moles of solute and liters of solvent you have for each solution you are. Working dilution problems it is a common practice to determine microbial counts for both liquid and solid specimenssuspensions of e. An easy learning guide dilution is the process of making a solution weaker or less concentrated. Jul 01, 2004 how to do the calculations to set up the dilution how to do the dilution optimally how to calculate the final dilution click on the links on the left for the dilution tutorials. The following problem sets test your ability to calculate dilution factors and concentrationsdilution factor calculationconcentration of a dilution. Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5 video. The dilution factor df can be used alone or as the denominator of the fraction, for example, a df of 10 means a 1. Serial dilution is a series of sequential dilution of a substance in. Determine the concentration or dilution factor for the flasks and plates. Below is an applet to practice finding dilution factors, and also to determine how much water to add to achieve a given dilution. Feb 17, 2016 a very quick lesson on how to do the math for serial and simple dilutions. Serial dilutions and cfu counts in microbiology duration. Statistical design for a small serial dilution series.
Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5. It is a common practice to determine microbial counts for both liquid and solid specimenssuspensions of e. A set of serial dilutions is made, a sample of each is placed into a liquefied agar medium, and the medium poured into a petri dish. While serial dilutions are a great way to save on both reagents and space in the lab. Serial dilution simulation lab the american biology teacher. Feb 09, 2015 this tutorial describes how dilutions are made from stock solutions, and how to calculate the volume of stock solution required for a given final concentration.
For example, to make a five liter solution of 50 millimolar nacl and ten. Serial dilution practice problem set science primer. The following problem sets test your ability to calculate dilution factors and concentration s. Even with practice, though, you may find dilution problems confusing unless you very clearly define your objectives. Remember, keep going until youre very comfortable with the calculations. On the next couple of slides, we will be going through some practice problems in. Serial dilutions are made by making the same dilution step over and over, using the previous dilution as the input to the next dilution in each step. Simply put, a serial 50% dilution is a series of 50% dilutions, each resulting in half the preceding concentration. A serial dilution is simply a series of simple dilutions which amplifies the dilution factor quickly. This way of expressing a dilution as a ratio of the parts of solute to the total number of parts is common in biology. It is a method of diluting a stock solution where concentration decreases by the same quantity in each successive step. All of the solutions here will use l for the volume.
Department of biology, bates college, lewiston, me 04240. Dilution explained clearly exam practice question youtube. Dilution techniques and pipetting biology libretexts. The purpose can be determination of bacterial, fungal, or viral counts indirectly. The following represents a serial tenfold dilution a series of 1. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. These include quantifying the number of bacteria in a sample using plate counts and the development of standard curves for quantitative colorimetric, radiometric, and enzymatic assays. There is dilution in the percentage you own, but there is not dilution in what the shares are worth. The dilution factor or the dilution is the initial volume divided by the final volume. An easy learning guide dec 11, 2019 dilution is the process of making a solution weaker or less concentrated.
Antibiotic concentration from stock solution calculation. Feb 10, 2010 we describe statistical plans for a serial dilution series designed to detect and estimate the number of viral particles in a solution. To find the overall or total dilution factor, simply multiply the dilution factors for each step. You multiply the original concentration by the dilution factors for each dilution. Suppose you must prepare 400 ml of a disinfectant that requires 1. Molarity dilution problems solution stoichiometry grams, moles, liters volume calculations chemistry duration. The following protocol is a stepbystep procedure to working dilution problems, and includes some practice problems at the end. Reconstitution calculation medication problems nursing students 10.