MCQ on Serial Dilution

What Is Serial Dilution?

Serial dilution is a laboratory technique used to reduce the concentration of a substance, typically a chemical or biological sample, in a series of steps. This is done by adding a known volume of the original sample to an equal volume of diluent, such as water or buffer, in a series of repeating steps. This results in a series of increasingly dilute solutions, each with a lower concentration of the original substance. Serial dilution is often used to measure the concentration of a sample, prepare solutions with a known concentration, and obtain precise measurements of bacterial or other microorganism populations in a sample. It can also be used to isolate pure cultures of microorganisms from mixed populations.

Also Read: Serial Dilution Method Definition, Procedure, Application

MCQ on Serial Dilution

1. What is the purpose of serial dilution?

a) To increase the concentration of a sample

b) To decrease the concentration of a sample

c) To measure the pH of a sample

d) To measure the temperature of a sample

2. How is serial dilution performed?

a) By adding a known volume of the original sample to an equal volume of diluent

b) By heating the sample

c) By freezing the sample

d) By centrifuging the sample

3. What is the difference between serial dilution and parallel dilution?

a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while parallel dilution is a method of diluting a sample into multiple tubes or wells at the same time.

b) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while parallel dilution is a method of diluting a sample into one tube or well at the time.

c) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while parallel dilution is a method of heating the sample.

d) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while parallel dilution is a method of freezing the sample.

4. What is the formula for serial dilution?

a) C1V1 = C2V2 b) C1V2 = C2V1 c) C1/V1 = C2/V2 d) C1V1 = C2V2

5. What are the advantages of using serial dilution?

a) It allows for precise measurement of the concentration of a sample b) It allows for isolation of pure cultures of microorganisms from mixed populations c) It allows for the preparation of solutions with a known concentration d) All of the above

6. What are the limitations of using serial dilution?

a) It can be time-consuming b) Errors can occur if the volumes and concentrations are not measured accurately c) It may not be suitable for certain types of samples d) All of the above

7. How is the final dilution factor calculated in serial dilution?

a) By multiplying the dilution factor of each step in the series b) By adding the dilution factor of each step in the series c) By dividing the dilution factor of each step in the series d) By subtracting the dilution factor of each step in the series

8. How is the number of bacteria or other microorganisms calculated using serial dilution?

a) By performing serial dilution, plating aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

b) By performing serial dilution, centrifuging aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

c) By performing serial dilution, freezing aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

d) By performing serial dilution, heating aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

9. What is the difference between serial dilution and simple dilution?

a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of diluting a sample into a single tube or well.

b) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of heating the sample.

c) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of freezing the sample.

d) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of centrifuging the sample.

10. Can serial dilution be automated?

a) Yes b) No

11. Can serial dilution be used for any type of sample?

a) Yes b) No

12. Can serial dilution be used for any type of microorganism?

a) Yes b) No

13. What is the difference between serial dilution and serial logarithmic dilution?

a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while serial logarithmic dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps using logarithmic increments.

b) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while serial logarithmic dilution is a method of heating the sample.

c) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while serial logarithmic dilution is a method of freezing the sample.

d) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while serial logarithmic dilution is a method of centrifuging the sample.

14. Is it necessary to sterilize the equipment and solutions used in serial dilution?

a) Yes b) No

15. What is the number of bacterial colonies formed after plating a serial dilution on nutrient agar?

a) High b) Low

16. How can bacterial cells in a serial dilution be counted?

a) By performing serial dilution, plating aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

b) By performing serial dilution, centrifuging aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

c) By performing serial dilution, freezing aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

d) By performing serial dilution, heating aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form

17. What is the objective of performing serial dilution?

a) To increase the concentration of a sample

b) To decrease the concentration of a sample

c) To measure the pH of a sample

d) To measure the temperature of a sample

18. How is the number of bacteria or other microorganisms calculated using serial dilution?

a) By performing serial dilution, counting the number of colonies that form

b) By performing serial dilution, measuring the absorbance of the solution

c) By performing serial dilution, measuring the fluorescence of the solution

d) By performing serial dilution, measuring the turbidity of the solution

19. How is the final dilution factor calculated in serial dilution?

a) By multiplying the dilution factor of each step in the series

b) By adding the dilution factor of each step in the series

c) By dividing the dilution factor of each step in the series

d) By subtracting the dilution factor of each step in the series

20. What is the difference between serial dilution and simple dilution?

a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of diluting a sample into a single tube or well.

b) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of heating the sample.

c) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of freezing the sample.

d) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of centrifuging the sample.

Answer Key

1. b) To decrease the concentration of a sample
2. a) By adding a known volume of the original sample to an equal volume of diluent
3. a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while parallel dilution is a method of diluting a sample into multiple tubes or wells at the same time.
4. a) C1V1 = C2V2
5. d) All of the above
6. d) All of the above
7. a) By multiplying the dilution factor of each step in the series
8. a) By performing serial dilution, plating aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form
9. a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of diluting a sample into a single tube or well
10. a) Yes
11. b) No
12. a) Yes
13. a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while serial logarithmic dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps using logarithmic increments.
14. a) Yes
15. b) Low
16. a) By performing serial dilution, plating aliquots of the diluted samples on nutrient agar or other suitable media, and counting the number of colonies that form
17. b) To decrease the concentration of a sample
18. a) By performing serial dilution, counting the number of colonies that form
19. a) By multiplying the dilution factor of each step in the series
20. a) Serial dilution is a method of diluting a sample in a series of steps, while simple dilution is a method of diluting a sample into a single tube or well