Serial Dilutions
- Serial dilutions are created by taking a series of dilutions of a stock solution. The concentration decreases by the same quantity between each test tube
- They can either be ‘doubling dilutions’ (where the concentration is halved between each test tube) or a desired range (e.g. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 mmol dm-3)
- Serial dilutions are completed to create a standard to compare unknown concentrations against
- The comparison can be:
- Visual
- Measured through a calibration/standard curve
- Measured using a colourimeter
- They can be used when:
- Counting bacteria or yeast populations
- Determining unknown glucose, starch, protein concentrations
- The comparison can be:
Making serial dilutions