Serial Dilution


A method used to stepwise dilute substance into solution with constant dilution factor in each step.


Experimental sciences include biochemistry, pharmacology, and physics as well as in homeopathy.


Procedure: Medium

Concept: Easy


Serial dilution is the stepwise dilution of a substance in solution. Usually the dilution factor at each step is constant, resulting in a geometric progression of the concentration in a logarithmic fashion.

Serial dilutions are used to accurately create highly diluted solutions as well as solutions for experiments resulting in concentration curves with a logarithmic scale.

Serial Dilution

Besides the more conventional uses described above, serial dilution may also be used to reduce the concentration of microscopic organisms or cells in a sample.

A tenfold dilution for each step is called a logarithmic dilution or log-dilution and a 3.16-fold (100.5-fold) dilution is called a half-logarithmic dilution or half-log dilution.




Serial dilution is a process of solution preparation. Therefore, analysis is not necessary.