Dilution Calculator

M₁V₁ = M₂V₂: solve any one dilution value from the other three.

Dilution Calculator

Worked example result

Stock molarity (M₁)	2.00000 mol/L
Stock volume (V₁)	0.50000 L
Final molarity (M₂)	0.50000 mol/L
Final volume (V₂)	2.00000 L

Diluting 0.5 L of a 2 M stock down to 0.5 M gives a final volume of 2 L — add about 1.5 L of solvent.

Diluting a solution adds solvent without changing the amount of solute, so the products of concentration and volume before and after are equal: M₁V₁ = M₂V₂.

Choose the value you want to find and enter the other three — leave the value you are solving for at 0, it is ignored. Use consistent volume units (both litres or both millilitres) and the result comes out in the same unit.

The formula

M₁ × V₁ = M₂ × V₂

Worked example

Diluting 0.5 L of a 2 M stock down to 0.5 M gives a final volume of 2 L — add about 1.5 L of solvent.

The example is pre-loaded in the result panel — press Calculate with your own numbers to replace it.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it M₁V₁ = M₂V₂?

M × V is the number of moles. Dilution adds no solute and removes none, so the moles before (M₁V₁) must equal the moles after (M₂V₂).

Can I mix litres and millilitres?

Only if both volumes use the same unit. The equation is unit-consistent as long as V₁ and V₂ match — the answer then comes out in that same unit.

Category: Science calculators

Dilution Calculator