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TITRATIONS
TITRATIONS
TITRATIONS
What is Titration?
The point at which all of the titrand has reacted is called the endpoint,
or equivalence point. How do you know when the endpoint has been reached?
At the endpoint, there is usually a color change in the titrand's solution. This is
caused by an indicator, which is included in the titrand's solution just so you
can see when you have reached the endpoint. The unknown amount of titrand in
the titrand's solution can usually be determined by setting up a proportion with
the known amount of titrating solution that was added. How this is done depends
on the exact titrating reaction that is being used.
You can watch the video below, made by the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT)'s Department of Chemistry, to see titration in action. Note: This
video uses an indicator that turns light pink at the endpoint, but different
indicators turn different colors at their endpoints. The next tab contains more
information about indicators.
Titration
Doing a Titration
Begin by preparing your buret, as described on
the buret page. Your buret should be conditioned and filled
with titrant solution. You should check for air bubbles and
leaks, before proceding with the titration.
If you think you might have reached the endpoint, you can
record the volume reading and add another partial drop.
Sometimes it is easier to tell when you have gone past the
endpoint.
If the flask looks like this, you have gone too far!
When you have reached the endpoint, read the final volume
in the buret and record it in your notebook.
Subtract the initial volume to determine the amount of
titrant delivered. Use this, the concentration of the titrant,
and the stoichiometry of the titration reaction to calculate
the number of moles of reactant in your analyte solution.
Elements of Titration
1. The standard solution is the solution of known concentration. An
accurately measured amount of standard solution is added during
titration to the solution of unknown concentration until the
equivalence or endpoint is reached. The equivalence point is when
the reactants are done reacting.
2. The solution of unknown concentration is otherwise known as
the analyte. During titration the titrant is added to the analyte in
order to achieve the equivalence point and determine the
concentration of the analyte.
3. The equivalence point is the ideal point for the completion
of titration. In order to obtain accurate results the equivalence point
must be attained precisely and accurately. The solution of known
concentration, or titrant, must be added to the solution of unknown
concentration, or analyte, very slowly in order to obtain a good
result. At the equivalence point the correct amount of standard
solution must be added to fully react with the unknown
concentration.
4. The end point of a titration indicates once the equivalence point
has been reached. It is indicated by some form of indicator which
varies depending on what type of titration being done. For example,
if a color indicator is used, the solution will change color when the
titration is at its end point.
Indicators
The use of an indicator is key in performing a successful titration
reaction. The purpose of the indicator is to show when enough standard
solution has been added to fully react with the unknown
concentration. However, an indicator should only be added when
necessary and is dependent upon the solution that is being
titrated. Therefore, indicators must only be added to the solution of
unknown concentration when no visible reaction will occur. Depending on
the solution being titrated, the choice of indicator can become key for the
success of the titration.
How to Setup a Titration
Materials
Erlenmeyer flask or beaker
Excess amount of standard solution (titrant)
A precisely measured amount of analyte; this will be used to make
the solution of unknown concentration
Indicator
Calibrated Burette
Burette Stand
Procedure
1. Before beginning the experiment, obtain all necessary materials and
clean all necessary items with distilled water.
2. Measure out a precise amount of analyte; this will make up the
solution of unknown concentration.
3. Quantitatively transfer the analyte into a beaker or Erlenmeyer
flask. Make sure to rinse all of solid analyte into the beaker or
Erlenmeyer flask with distilled water.
4. Add additional distilled water until the anlayte is fully dissolved.
Measure and record volume of aqueous solution, the process of
titration will solve for concentration of this solution.
5. Add four to five drops of the appropriate color indicator into the
beaker.
6. Swirl the beaker in order to mix the aqueous solution of the analyte
and the drops of indicator.
7. Fill the burette with an excess amount of titrant. The titrant is the
standard solution of known concentration and should be in aqueous
form.
8. Clamp the burette carefully to a burette stand. The tip of the burette
should not be touching any surfaces.
9. Place the beaker or Erlenmeyer flask containing the aqueous
solution of unknown concentration under the burette.
10. Record the initial volume of the burette. Make sure to measure
at the bottom of the meniscus.
11. Turn on the stopcock (tap) of the burette, so that standard
solution is added to the beaker. This should cause a color change so
be sure to swirl the beaker or Erlenmeyer flask until the color
disappears.
12. Repeat the above step until the color does not disappear. This
means you have reached the endpoint
13. Stop when you've reached endpoint, which is the point when
the reactant within the solution of unknown concentration has been
completely neutralized. You can tell you've reached the endpoint
because the color will change.
14. Measure and record your final volume of the burette. Calculate
the volume of standard solution used by subtracting the initial
volume measurement from the final volume measurement of the
burette.
15. Now perform the necessary calculations in order to obtain the
concentration of the unknown solution.
Types of Titrations
The following types of titrations are categorized based on chemical
reactions.
Back Titrations
The purpose of back titrating is to return to the endpoint after it was
passed. Back titrating should only be used when made necessary. It
is often used when the solution being titrated is either too weak or too
slow to give a reaction. It is also used if too much titrant was added, and
the solution turned too dark. This means the experiment must be done
over. The way to back titrate is to add an excess volume of another
reactant of known concentration.
Titration Curves
The graphs of titration curves effectively show the relationship between
the pH of the solution of unknown concentration as the standard solution
is added to it in order to reach neutralization.
Effects on pH
The pH of the final solution of titration changes as a result of the
concentration of the standard solution. Ideally, if the titration has been
done precisely and accurately, the final solution of the titration process
should be neutralized and have a pH of 7.0. However, this is not always
the case. The pH of the final solution often fluctuates depending upon the
concentration of the unknown solution and the standard solution that is
being added. Therefore, the effects that titration has on pH can best be
defined by a generalized trend exhibited by the equivalence points on a
titration curve. For more information of pH and pOH click here.
Solving Titration Reactions
M1V1=M2V2M1V1=M2V2
If done correctly, the final solution after titration should be neutralized and
contain equal moles of hydroxide and hydrogen ions. So the moles of acid
should equal the moles of base:
Examples