Acid Dilution Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the acid dilution calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Final Acid Concentration (C₂)
c2 = (c1 * v1) / v2Water to Add
water_added = v2 - v1Variables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
c1 | Initial Acid Concentration (C₁)(M) | 12 |
v1 | Volume of Concentrated Acid (V₁)(mL) | 10 |
v2 | Final Total Volume (V₂)(mL) | 1000 |
How It Works
How to Dilute an Acid
Formula
C₁V₁ = C₂V₂
Solving for C₂: C₂ = C₁V₁ / V₂
Where:
Safety: Always add acid to water, never water to acid.
Worked Example
Dilute 10 mL of 12 M HCl to a final volume of 1000 mL.
c1 = 12v1 = 10v2 = 1000
- 01C₂ = C₁V₁ / V₂
- 02C₂ = (12 × 10) / 1000
- 03C₂ = 120 / 1000
- 04C₂ = 0.12 M
Frequently Asked Questions
Why add acid to water?
Adding acid to water disperses the heat of dilution safely. Adding water to concentrated acid can cause violent boiling and spattering.
Does this work for all acids?
Yes, C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ applies to any dilution as long as no chemical reaction occurs during mixing.
Can I use this for serial dilutions?
Yes, apply the formula to each step sequentially or use C_final = C_initial × (V_transfer / V_total)^n for n identical steps.
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Acid Dilution Calculator