Laimennus

Laimennus, commonly translated as dilution, is a process in chemistry and biology that lowers the concentration of a solute in a solution. This is achieved by adding more solvent, which increases the total volume without changing the amount of solute, or by removing a portion of the solution and replacing it with solvent. The result is a less concentrated solution.

Most practical dilutions assume the amount of solute remains constant while the solution’s volume changes. For simple dilutions, the relationship between concentrations and volumes is expressed by C1 V1 = C2 V2, where C1 and V1 are the initial concentration and volume, and C2 and V2 are the final values.

Common approaches include simple dilution, where a measured volume of stock is mixed with solvent to reach a desired final volume, and serial dilution, in which successive dilutions generate a range of concentrations. Accurate dilution requires precise measurement and compatible solvents.

Applications span laboratory preparation of standards, calibration curves, microbiology, biochemistry, clinical testing, and environmental analysis. For example, to obtain 100 mL of a 0.1 M solution from a 1.0 M stock, mix 10 mL of stock with 90 mL solvent (C1 V1 = C2 V2).

Practical considerations include temperature effects on volumes, solution density, and solute activity; pipetting and mixing errors; and potential chemical interactions between solute and solvent. Dilution is foundational to quantitative assays and experimental design, enabling measurements over appropriate concentration ranges.