Titration

Titration is a volumetric procedure for determining the concentration of an unknown species by adding a carefully measured volume of a known species that reacts quantitatively with the solution of unknown species. The equivalence point in a titration occurs when the requirements of the balanced equation for chemical reaction are exactly satisfied. An indicator is used to find the end-point of the titration.

Terms involved in titration

Titrant : The solution of known concentration added from the burette. End Point : The end point is the experimental observation, at which the two solutions just completely react. It can be detected by the colour change of the Indicator. This may not be at the equivalence point. Equivalence Point : The point at which the two solutions react just completely in stoichiometric proportion such that the actual theoretical completion of the reaction take place is called the equivalence point or stoichiometric end point or theoretical end point. Standard solution: is a reagent of exactly known concentration that is used in a titrimetric analysis.

Indicators
An indicator is a chemical compound that is added in small amounts to a solution so that the pH (acidity or basicity) of the solution can be determined visually.

Indicators
Types of Indicators: One colour indicator : eg. phenolpthalein, Two colour indicator : eg. methyl orange, Mixed Indicator : eg. neutral red + methylene blue.

Colour changes of indicators

We often use instruments to detect end points. These instruments respond to properties of the solution that change in a characteristic way during the titration. Among such instruments are colorimeters, turbidimeters, temperature monitors, refractometers, voltmeters, current meters, and conductivity meters.

Properties of standard solutions

The ideal standard solution for a titrimetric method will be sufficiently stable so that it is necessary to determine its concentration only once; react rapidly with the analyte so that the time required between additions of reagent is minimized; react more or less completely with the analyte so that satisfactory end points are realized; and undergo a selective reaction with the analyte that can be described by a balanced equation.

Acid base titration

Reaction : HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) ---> NaCl(aq) + H2O acid base

H+ + OH- --> H2O

Titration setup
Typical setup for carrying out a titration.

Titration setup
Detail of the buret graduations.

Titration setup
Before the titration begins.

Titration setup
During titration.

Titration setup
Titration end point.

Thank you.