# Nucleic Acid Dilution Calculator (C1V1 = C2V2) DNA/RNA working-solution prep: C1V1 = C2V2 mode solves the stock volume V1 = C2V2/C1 plus diluent; 1:X mode gives final concentration C1/X and volumes. Unit-free algebra, pipetting safety advice (<0.5 µL suggests serial dilution), and impossible targets rejected. Sambrook & Russell / Thermo Fisher derived. Educational use only. > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/nucleic-acid-dilution - **Category:** Education - **Keywords:** nucleic acid dilution, c1v1 = c2v2 calculator, dna dilution calculator, rna dilution, dilution factor 1:x, working solution dna, stock solution calculator, ng/µl dilution, serial dilution nucleic acid, molecular biology, lab calculator ## Overview The Nucleic Acid Dilution Calculator helps prepare DNA or RNA working solutions using either C1V1 = C2V2 or a fixed 1:X dilution factor. Enter the stock concentration and final volume to calculate the stock and diluent volumes, final concentration, and dilution factor. ## Inputs - **Calculation Mode** (select): Solve for the stock volume from a target concentration, or dilute by a fixed 1:X factor. - **Stock Concentration (ng/µL)** (number): Quantified concentration of the stock (any unit — keep it identical to the target unit). - **Target Concentration (ng/µL)** (number): Desired working concentration (C1V1 = C2V2 mode; must not exceed the stock). - **Dilution Factor X** (number): Total-to-stock ratio of a 1:X dilution (dilution-factor mode; must be greater than 1). - **Final Volume (µL)** (number): Total volume of the finished working solution. - **Decimal Places** (number) ## When to use - Calculate the stock volume needed for a specific DNA or RNA target concentration. - Prepare a working solution using a fixed dilution factor such as 1:10 or 1:100. - Check whether the calculated stock volume is practical for pipetting before preparing the solution. ## How it works - Choose Target concentration (C1V1 = C2V2) or Dilution factor (1:X) mode. - Enter the stock concentration, target concentration or dilution factor, and final volume. - The calculator determines the stock volume, diluent volume, final concentration, and dilution factor. - Use matching concentration units for the stock and target; targets above the stock concentration are rejected. ## Use cases - Prepare DNA or RNA working solutions for molecular biology experiments. - Create lower-concentration solutions from quantified stock samples. - Plan practical dilution volumes for qPCR, cloning, or other nucleic acid workflows. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which concentration units can I use? Any concentration unit can be used, including ng/µL, µg/mL, or nM, as long as the stock and target units match. ### What does C1V1 = C2V2 calculate? It calculates the stock volume as V1 = C2 × V2 ÷ C1, then gives the diluent volume needed to reach the final volume. ### What does a 1:X dilution mean? A 1:X dilution uses one part stock in X total parts, producing a final concentration of C1 ÷ X. ### What if the calculated stock volume is very small? A volume below 0.5 µL suggests using a two-step serial dilution; a volume below 2 µL suggests using a low-retention tip. ### Can the calculator increase concentration? 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