How do you perform a dilution calculation?

To perform a dilition calculation, you use the formula C1V1 = C2V2, where C is concentration and V is volume.

In more detail, this formula is used to calculate the final concentration (C2) or volume (V2) after dilution. The initial concentration (C1) and volume (V1) are the concentration and volume before dilution.

Let's break it down. C1 is the initial concentration of your solution, before you dilute it. V1 is the initial volume of this concentrated solution. C2 is the final concentration you want to achieve after dilution, and V2 is the final volume of the diluted solution.

To use this formula, you need to know three of these variables to calculate the fourth. For example, if you know C1, V1, and C2, you can calculate V2. This would tell you how much solvent you need to add to your initial solution to achieve the desired final concentration.

Here's an example. Let's say you have 10 ml of a solution with a concentration of 5 M (molar) and you want to dilute it to a concentration of 1 M. You would plug these values into the formula: (5 M)(10 ml) = (1 M)(V2). Solving for V2 gives you 50 ml. This means you need to add enough solvent to your initial 10 ml solution to make the total volume 50 ml.

Remember, when you're diluting a solution, the amount of solute (the substance dissolved in the solution) doesn't change. Only the amount of solvent (the substance the solute is dissolved in) changes. This is why the formula works. The product of the concentration and volume before dilution (C1V1) is equal to the product of the concentration and volume after dilution (C2V2), because the amount of solute stays the same.