How can the concentration of a diluted solution be calculated?

The concentration of a diluted solution can be calculated using the equation where the initial concentration and volume of the solution are related to the final concentration and volume after dilution. This relationship is expressed by the formula C1V1 = C2V2.

In this equation, C1 represents the initial concentration, V1 is the initial volume, C2 is the final concentration, and V2 is the final volume after dilution. This formula is derived from the principle of conservation of mass, which states that the amount of solute before and after dilution remains unchanged. Therefore, the number of moles of solute (C1 × V1) before dilution equals the number of moles of solute (C2 × V2) after dilution. Using this relationship allows you to find either concentration or volume when the other variables are known.

This approach helps in practical scenarios where dilutions are made in laboratory settings, ensuring that the concentrations can be managed accurately for solutions used in experiments.