Titrations

Main Idea: Titrations are an application

of acid-base neutralization reactions that
require the use of an indicator.

2
 Titration
• Titration
– Analytical method in standard solution
which a standard
solution is used to
determine the
concentration of an
unknown solution.

unknown solution
 Titration

• Equivalence point (endpoint)

– Point at which equal amounts of
H3O+ and OH- have been added.
– Determined by…
• indicator color change
• dramatic change in pH
 Titration

moles H3O = moles

+

OH -

MV n = MV n
M: Molarity
V:volume
n:# of H+ ions in the acid
or OH- ions in the base
 Titration

• 42.5 mL of 1.3M KOH are required to neutralize

50.0 mL of H2SO4. Find the molarity of H2SO4.

H3O+ OH- MV# = MV#

M=? M = 1.3M M(50.0mL)(2)
V = 42.5 mL =(1.3M)(42.5mL)(1)
V = 50.0 mL
n=2 n=1 M = 0.55M H2SO4
Acid-Base Titration
 Titration
indicator - changes color
to indicate pH change
e.g. phenolphthalein is colorless in acidand pink in basic
solution
endpoint

pink

equivalence
pH
point
7

Pirate…”Walk the plank”

once in water, shark eats and
water changes to pink color

base
• Titration Basics
– A pH curve shows the change in pH versus volume of titrant as the titration
proceeds

• pH meter can be used to monitor pH during the titration

2) An acid-base indicator can be used to signal reaching the equivalence point

First Derivative Curve

Shows where change is greatest
3) Important points:
– pH increases slowly far from the equivalence point
– pH changes quickly near the equivalence point
– The equivalence point of a strong acid—strong base titration = 7.00

4) The titration of a strong base with a strong acid is almost identical

II.Titration of a Weak Acid with a Strong Base
– Addition of a strong base to a weak acid forms a Buffer Solution
• HA + OH- A - + H 2O
• If not enough base has been added to complete the reaction: HA/A - buffer
B. Important Points
• pH increases more rapidly at the start than for a strong acid
2) pH levels off near pKa due to HA/A- buffering effect
pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA]) = pKa + log(1) = pKa (when [A-] = [HA])
3) Curve is steepest near equivalence point. Equivalence Point > 7.0
4) Curve is similar to strong acid—strong base after eq. pt. where OH - is major

½ Equivalence Pt.
pH = pKa

12.5
III.Titration of a Weak Base with a Strong Acid
– Similar problem to the titration of a weak acid with a strong base
• Determine major species from the stoichiometry
• Calculate pH from weak acid, buffer, or weak base accordingly

– Example: Titrate 100 ml of 0.10 M NH3 (Kb = 1.8 x 10-5) with 0.1 M HCl.

 
IV. Titrations of Polyprotic Acids and Bases
1. Multiple Inflection Points = Multiple Equivalence Points will be seen
2. The volume required to reach each equivalence point will be the same
CO32- + H+ HCO3- Kb1 = KW/Ka2 = 1.8 x 10-4 (pKb1 = 3.74)
HCO3- + H+ H2CO3 Kb2 = KW/Ka1 = 2.3 x 10-8 (pKb2 = 7.64)

pKa2 = 10.26
pKb1 = 3.74

pKa1 = 6.36
pKb2 = 7.64

½ Eq. pt 1 Eq. pt 1 ½ Eq. pt 2 Eq. pt 2

IV.Acid-Base Indicators
– Finding the equivalence point of a titration
• Use a pH meter
– Plot pH versus titrant volume
– Center vertical region = equivalence point

• Use an Acid-Base Indicator

– Acid-Base Indicator = molecule that changes color based on pH
– Choose an indicator that changes color at the equivalence point
– End Point = when the indicator changes color. If you have chosen the
wrong indicator, the end point will be different than the eq. pt.
– Indicators are often Weak Acids that lose a proton (causing the color
change) when [OH-] reaches a certain concentration
HIn + OH- In- + H2O
B. We can use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation on Indicators as well
• pH = pKa + log([In-]/[HIn])
• pH = pKa + log(1/10) for a color change
– log(1/10) = -1
– pH for color change starting in acid is always pKa – 1 for any Indicator

• For a basic solution titrated with acid, [In-]/[HIn] = 10/1 for color change
– Log(10/1) = +1, pH for color change will equal pKa + 1
– Useful range for a pH Indicator is always pKa +/- 1
V. Experimental Details
– Three Titrations Today
• Titrate 10 ml of unknown HCl with NaOH, using Methyl Red
• Titrate 10 ml of unknown HOAc with NaOH, using Phenolphthalein
• Titrate 25 ml of unknown Na2CO3 with HCl, using Methyl Orange
• RECORD pH at which Indicator Changes Color

– We will go over starting, standardizing, and saving data on Palms in Lab

– Plotting your data--Example

• Open txt file from LabQuest in Excel—it is TAB DELIMITED
• Select all three columns of data—Excel will plot the pH curve and derivative
• Insert XY Scatter plot with a smooth curve
• Use the Derivative Curve to find the equivalence point
• For weak acids/bases, use ½ volume from the equivalence point to find pKa

– Use your titration curves to answer all questions in the lab handout
• Turn in a graph for each titration
• Don’t worry about “Data Sheet” (manual titration) except for indicator color changes