Serial dilutions are created by taking a series of dilutions of a stock solution. The concentration decreases by the same quantity between each test tube
They can either be ‘doubling dilutions’ (where the concentration is halved between each test tube) or a desired range (e.g. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 mmol dm-3)
Serial dilutions are completed to create a standard to compare unknown concentrations against
The comparison can be:
Visual
Measured through a calibration/standard curve
Measured using a colourimeter
They can be used when:
Counting bacteria or yeast populations
Determining unknown glucose, starch, protein concentrations