Solution preparation and serial dilution calculator

What does this template do?

This workbook plans solutions for the bench. It calculates the mass of a solid to weigh for a target molarity and final volume, corrected for purity. It works out the stock and diluent volumes for a dilution with C1 V1 equal to C2 V2, and it converts a solution's molarity to grams per liter, percent weight per volume, milligrams per liter and millimoles per liter.

The serial dilution sheet builds a table of concentrations for up to twelve steps. Every step can use one dilution factor, or each step can have its own factor in a custom table. For each tube it shows the transfer volume, the diluent volume and the cumulative dilution factor. Rows beyond the chosen number of steps stay blank.

The example is 0.150 M sodium chloride in 500 mL, with a 1.000 M stock for the dilution block and a tenfold series. All values are example data. Milligrams per liter equal parts per million only for dilute aqueous solutions, and the sheet states that assumption.

What’s inside

• Mass to weigh = C x V x M / purity, with purity entered as a fraction
• Stock volume from C1 V1 = C2 V2, with a check that the target is below the stock
• Converts molarity to g/L, percent w/v, mg/L and mmol/L
• Serial dilution table for up to twelve steps, with transfer and diluent volumes
• Custom table where each step has its own dilution factor

Which tabs does the workbook have?

What formulas does this template use?

This template holds 138 formulas in 257 cells across 3 tabs, so 54% of its cells calculate. They use 4 distinct functions; the longest formula is 142 characters.

Counted from the workbook itself. Only functions that Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Apple Numbers evaluate the same way are used, so the formulas survive every download format.

How do you use it?

1. On the Prepare tab, enter the solute, molar mass, purity, target molarity and final volume.
2. Read the mass to weigh in the first tile and in block (a).
3. For a dilution from stock, enter the stock and target concentrations and the final volume in block (b).
4. On the Serial dilution tab, enter the stock concentration, unit label, factor, tube volume and number of steps.
5. Type a factor for each step in the custom table when the steps are not equal.

What is it good for?

• Weighing a salt for a buffer or standard solution
• Diluting a stock to a working concentration
• Preparing a calibration series of standards
• Converting a molarity to a mass concentration for a report

Questions about this sheet