TITRATION

Titration is an experimental technique used to determine the concentration of an unknown

solution. It usually involves acids and bases, but may be extended to any addition of one solution
to another to find out the amounts required for reaction.

General experimental procedure

The procedure involves adding one solution to another solution, in the presence of an indicator

that shows when the two solutions have completely reacted. If the concentration and volume of

one of the solutions is known and the volume of the other solution is known, then the unknown

concentration can be calculated providing the stoichiometry of the reaction is known.

The experimental procedure is very accurate and liquids are carefully measured, using specially

designed glass apparatus with low margins of error.

Titrations are intended for analytical and determination/estimation purposes. If the compound

being used for the titration cannot be obtained in a very pure state then it first must be

standardised against a solution whose concentration can be determined to a high degree of

accuracy. Such substances are called primary standards.

In summary:

 Measure 25cm3 of one solution into a conical flask

 Add a few drops of indicator solution
 Add a second solution very slowly from a burette until the indicator just changes colour
 Repeat the process until concordant results are obtained (results within 0.1 cm 3 of one
another)
 Titration is carried out several times until results within 0.1cm 3 of one another are

obtained. These are then said to be 'concordant results'

 Readings on the burette should be taken at eye level; the bottom of the meniscus at the

surface of the solution is usually read.

 Once concordant results have been obtained an average of these is used for calculations.
 Note: The solution in the conical flask does not have to be the unknown, the choice is usually

dependent on the ease of observation of the indicator colour change. For example, it is easier

to see the first hint of pink appearing from a colourless solution in a flask on a white tile, than

to carry out the titration the other way round.

Calculations

The calculation is carried out as follows:

The number of moles of solute in the known solution is calculated using the relationship:

moles = molarity x volume

Then the stoichiometric relationship between this substance and the other reacting solution is

used to determine the number of moles of solute in the unknown solution.

Example of equation stoichoimetry:

Sodium hydroxide + nitric acid sodium nitrate + water

NaOH + HNO3 NaNO3 + H2O
1 mole ≡ 1 mole

Here the stoichiometric relationship is:

moles of base = moles of acid

The molarity of the unknown solution can now be calculated from the number of moles present

and the volume used:

molarity = moles/volume(litres)

Calculation Schematic

The calculation may be represented by a flow scheme showing the order of the operations to be

carried out.

Example - Determination of the concentration of an unknown sodium hydroxide solution.

Procedure

 25cm3 of the unknown base is measured into a conical flask using a pipette.
 5 drops of phenolphthalein indicator is added
 A standard solution of potassium hydrogen phthalate (an acid) is added from a burette
until the red colour of the inicator has completely disappeared. The burette reading is
noted.
 The process is repeated several times until concordant results are obtained (results
within 0.1 cm3 of one another)

The potassium hydrogen phthalate reacts in a 1:1 ratio with sodium hydroxide
Therefore at the end-point (equivalence point)

Moles of potassium hydrogen phthalate = moles of sodium hydroxide

molarity(acid) x volume(acid) = molarity(base) x volume(base)

The molarity of the unknown sodium hydroxide solution may now be calculated.