Same concentration basis
C₁ and C₂ must both be wt%, both mg/mL, both particles/mL or another directly compatible basis.
Interactive preparation tool
Calculate ideal stock and diluent volumes.
Enter stock concentration C₁, target concentration C₂ and final volume V₂ using compatible concentration units. The calculator solves V₁ = C₂V₂ ÷ C₁.
Equation
What the calculator assumes
C₁ × V₁ = C₂ × V₂ therefore V₁ = (C₂ × V₂) ÷ C₁Ideal volume relationship
The calculation assumes the specified volumes can be added as an ideal preparation for planning purposes.
Homogeneous stock
The withdrawn stock must represent the certified concentration after the product-specific conditioning procedure.
No process loss
The calculation excludes adsorption, retained liquid, evaporation, aggregation and transfer losses.
Operational check
Reject an impractical result before preparing it.
- Is V₁ within the calibrated transfer-device range?
- Does one-step dilution create an acceptable concentration ratio?
- Will the diluent preserve stability?
- Is the final volume large enough for mixing and sampling?
- Does the certificate concentration use the same basis?
- Will the working dispersion be used within a validated hold time?
Questions engineers ask
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix wt% and mg/mL in this calculator?
No. C₁ and C₂ must use the same concentration basis unless you perform a valid density and unit conversion first.
What if the calculated stock volume is below my pipette range?
Increase final volume, use a validated intermediate dilution or choose a different stock. Do not ignore transfer uncertainty.
Does the calculator account for contraction or adsorption?
No. It is an ideal-volume calculator and explicitly excludes process losses and nonideal mixing.
Sources and verification
Technical basis
- NIST traceability policy — Supports documenting user preparation as part of the measurement chain.
- NIST measurement protocols — Supports explicit units, method and uncertainty.
- Applied Physics 10 wt% silica family — Example stock concentration context; verify exact ordered product.
Commercial specifications should be confirmed against the current Applied Physics quotation, certificate, lot documentation and product page before purchase or protocol use.
Continue the research
Related technical guidance
Dilution and dispersion guide
Apply the process controls around the equation.
Zeta potential
Verify the final medium remains stable.
Particle-count estimator
Estimate idealized mass-to-count relationships.
Applied Physics technical pathway
Need a particle specification reviewed?
Send the target size, medium, concentration, application, certificate requirements and shipping destination. Applied Physics can evaluate the appropriate silica family or custom pathway.