{
  "slug": "dilution",
  "title": "Dilution Calculator (C1V1 = C2V2)",
  "heading": "Dilution Calculator",
  "category": "math",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/dilution",
  "summary": "Stock volume needed to hit a target concentration.",
  "description": "The workhorse of any lab bench: figure out how much stock solution and how much diluent to combine for the concentration you actually want.",
  "formula": "C1 × V1 = C2 × V2",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=dilution",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "c1",
      "label": "Stock concentration (C1)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.0001,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "c2",
      "label": "Target concentration (C2)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.0001,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "v2",
      "label": "Final volume (V2)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 100,
      "unit": "mL",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "v1",
      "label": "Stock volume needed (mL)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "diluent",
      "label": "Diluent to add (mL)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "factor",
      "label": "Dilution factor (×)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Stock concentration (C1): 10",
      "Target concentration (C2): 1",
      "Final volume (V2): 100 mL"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Stock volume needed (mL): 10",
      "Diluent to add (mL): 90",
      "Dilution factor (×): 10"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter stock concentration (c1).",
      "Enter target concentration (c2).",
      "Enter final volume (v2) (mL).",
      "Read your stock volume needed (ml) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "c1": 6,
        "c2": 0.6,
        "v2": 60
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "c1": 10,
        "c2": 1,
        "v2": 100
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "c1": 16,
        "c2": 1.6,
        "v2": 160
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are rounded for display; the underlying calculation keeps full precision.",
    "Very large or very small inputs may hit floating-point limits in the browser.",
    "Inputs outside the accepted range are clamped rather than rejected."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the dilution calculator work?",
      "a": "The workhorse of any lab bench: figure out how much stock solution and how much diluent to combine for the concentration you actually want. The underlying maths is: C1 × V1 = C2 × V2"
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "3 values: stock concentration (c1), target concentration (c2), and final volume (v2). Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the stock volume needed (ml) result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Results are rounded for display; the underlying calculation keeps full precision."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for students, developers, and anyone who needs the answer right now without setting up a spreadsheet."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/molarity"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Dilution Calculator (C1V1 = C2V2) (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/dilution)"
}