How It Works
This calculator works in 4 steps.
Set the final volume
Type the batch volume, such as 50 mL.
Add each component
Type the name, stock concentration, and target concentration for every solute.
Solve each line
The calculator computes each stock volume independently.
Read the water volume
The calculator sums the stock volumes and returns the water to reach the final volume.
The Formula
The formula solves C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ for every component and fills the rest with water.
Vᵢ = Cᵢ,final × V_total / Cᵢ,stockV_water = V_total − Σ VᵢΣ Vᵢ ≤ V_total- Vᵢ:
- Stock volume of component i
- Cᵢ,stock / Cᵢ,final:
- Stock and final concentration of component i
- V_total:
- Final batch volume
A 50 mL lysis buffer with 50 mM Tris from 1 M takes 2.5 mL; 150 mM NaCl from 5 M takes 1.5 mL. All 6 components in the table sum to 14.25 mL, leaving 35.75 mL water.
Conversion Table
The conversion table solves a 6-component, 50 mL lysis buffer recipe.
| Component | Stock | Final | Stock volume (mL) | Stock volume (µL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tris-HCl | 1,000 mM | 50 mM | 2.5 mL | 2,500 µL |
| NaCl | 5,000 mM | 150 mM | 1.5 mL | 1,500 µL |
| MgCl₂ | 1,000 mM | 2 mM | 0.1 mL | 100 µL |
| EDTA | 500 mM | 1 mM | 0.1 mL | 100 µL |
| DTT | 1,000 mM | 1 mM | 0.05 mL | 50 µL |
| Glycerol (%) | 50% | 10% | 10 mL | 10,000 µL |
Water to add: 35.75 mL.
What Is the Multicomponent Solution Calculator?
The Multicomponent Solution Calculator is a tool that returns the stock volume of every component in a recipe and the water needed to bring the mixture to the final volume. Each solute is tracked on its own with its own stock concentration and target.
Buffers such as lysis buffers and reaction mixes combine 4 to 10 stocks. The calculator applies C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ to each line, sums the stock volumes, and subtracts the sum from the final volume to get the water. The tool warns when the stock volumes exceed the final volume.
Common Uses
There are 5 main uses of this calculator.
Lysis buffers
Biochemists combine Tris, salt, detergent, and inhibitors.
Reaction master mixes
Molecular biologists combine buffer, dNTPs, primers, and enzyme.
Running buffers
Labs combine Tris, glycine, and SDS stocks.
Culture media
Microbiologists add salts, carbon source, and trace elements.
Assay buffers
Developers combine BSA, salts, and detergents to a final volume.