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Molarity · stock dilution · serial dilutions

Solution preparation recipe generator

Generate lab-ready recipes for making solutions from solids or stock solutions and building serial dilution series, with clear steps and shareable URLs.

All calculations run only in your browser; no input values are sent to a server.

How to use (3 steps)

  1. Choose a mode: from solid reagent, from stock solution (C1V1 = C2V2) or serial dilution series.
  2. Enter the solute name, molar mass, target concentration and volume, or the stock concentration, factor and tube count.
  3. Read off the required mass/volumes and numbered recipe steps, then copy the URL to share the setup.

Default examples use NaCl so you can see realistic recipes immediately and adjust them to your own solutes.

Key formulas (for review)

This calculator is built around a small set of concentration formulas. Reviewing them helps you connect what you see on screen with the algebra.

Molarity: C = n / V
C is concentration in mol/L, n is amount in mol and V is volume in L. From this you can move between moles, mass (via molar mass M in g/mol) and volume.
Dilution: C₁V₁ = C₂V₂
For simple dilutions, the moles before and after are equal. C₁ and V₁ are the stock concentration and volume; C₂ and V₂ are the diluted concentration and final volume.
Percent solutions (% w/v and % w/w)
% w/v means grams of solute per 100 mL of solution. % w/w means grams of solute per 100 g of solution (here we approximate aqueous solutions using 1 g/mL for water).

As you read the calculation steps, try to match each line to one of these formulas.

Practice examples

Example 1 — NaCl solution from solid

You need 0.20 M NaCl and 250 mL of solution. Roughly how many grams of NaCl are required? Hint: use C = n/V with C = 0.20 mol/L and V = 0.250 L, then m = n·M with M = 58.44 g/mol. The calculator should give about 2.9 g.

Example 2 — Dilution from a stock solution

You have a 2.0 M HCl stock and want 100 mL of 0.50 M HCl. Use C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ with C₁ = 2.0, C₂ = 0.50 and V₂ = 0.100 L to find V₁. The calculator should suggest pipetting about 25 mL of stock and diluting to 100 mL.

Inputs

Fill in the common solute information, then switch modes to see recipes from solid, from stock, or as a serial dilution series.

Results

Mode: From solid reagent

These values show what to weigh or pipette; use the calculation steps below to see how the formulas are applied.

Preparation steps

  1. Recipe steps will appear here after calculation.

Serial dilution table

How it is calculated

  1. Steps will appear here after calculation.

FAQ

What kinds of solution recipes can this tool generate?

The calculator covers three common lab tasks: preparing a solution from a solid reagent at a chosen concentration and volume, diluting a concentrated stock to a target concentration using C₁V₁ = C₂V₂, and building a serial dilution series with a fixed dilution factor and number of tubes.

Does this replace good lab practice or safety checks?

No. The tool provides idealised recipes based on simple concentration formulas and assumes routine aqueous solutions. You should still follow your lab’s safety rules, check units and significant figures, and adapt the volumes or glassware to the available equipment and your protocol.

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