What is the purpose of serial dilution?

The purpose of serial dilution is to provide a systematic method for diluting a concentrated solution into a series of solutions where each step reduces the concentration by a consistent factor. This is particularly useful in laboratory settings for creating a range of concentrations that can be used for various applications, such as determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of a substance, measuring the effects of a drug at different strengths, or preparing a sample for standardization in experiments.

In this process, a small volume of the original solution is mixed with a specific volume of diluent, leading to the first dilution. The process is repeated using the diluted solution to create subsequent dilutions. This approach ensures that each dilution is proportional to the previous one, making it easy to plot graphs or perform statistical analyses based on the known concentrations.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of a serial dilution. While creating a solution that is entirely solvent would involve complete dilution, it does not reflect the systematic approach of serial dilution. Measuring the total volume of the solution is not the main focus of serial dilution, nor does serial dilution aim to enhance potency, as dilutions generally reduce the concentration of the active ingredient in solution.