Titration and Standardization
Introduction
Titration is a laboratory technique used to determine the concentration of a solution by adding a known volume of a second solution of known concentration (the titrant) to the solution in question (the analyte) until a chemical reaction between the two substances is complete. The point at which the reaction is complete is called the equivalence point.
Basic Concepts
- Molarity: The concentration of a solution is expressed in terms of molarity, which is the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.
- Stoichiometry: The calculation of the amount of reactants and products in a chemical reaction is called stoichiometry.
- Equivalence Point: The equivalence point is the point in a titration at which the moles of titrant added are equal to the moles of analyte present.
- Titration Curve: A titration curve is a graph that plots the pH of the solution being titrated against the volume of titrant added.
- Standardization: Standardization is the process of determining the exact concentration of a titrant solution by reacting it with a known amount of a primary standard. A primary standard is a highly pure substance with a known chemical formula and high molar mass, that is stable, non-hygroscopic (doesn't absorb water from the air) and readily available in pure form.
Equipment and Techniques
- Burette: A burette is a long, narrow glass tube with graduations marked on the side. It is used to deliver a precise volume of titrant to the analyte solution.
- Pipette: A pipette is a small, graduated glass tube used to transfer a precise volume of liquid.
- Erlenmeyer flask: An Erlenmeyer flask is a conical flask with a wide mouth. It is used to contain the analyte solution.
- Indicator: An indicator is a substance that changes color at or near the equivalence point of a titration. The choice of indicator depends on the type of titration being performed.
Types of Titrations
- Acid-Base Titrations: Acid-base titrations are used to determine the concentration of an acid or base. These involve the reaction of an acid with a base.
- Redox Titrations: Redox titrations are used to determine the concentration of an oxidizing or reducing agent. These involve the transfer of electrons between the titrant and analyte.
- Precipitation Titrations: Precipitation titrations are used to determine the concentration of an ion that forms a precipitate with a titrant. These involve the formation of an insoluble solid.
- Complexometric Titrations: Complexometric titrations are used to determine the concentration of a metal ion that forms a complex with a titrant. These involve the formation of a complex ion.
Data Analysis
The data from a titration can be used to calculate the concentration of the analyte solution. The following formula is used:
Concentration of analyte = (Volume of titrant × Molarity of titrant) / Volume of analyte
Applications
- Titration is used in a variety of applications, including:
- Quality control in the food and beverage industry
- Environmental monitoring
- Clinical chemistry
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Determining the purity of chemicals
Conclusion
Titration is a versatile and powerful technique that is used in a wide variety of applications. It is a relatively simple technique to perform, but it requires careful attention to detail in order to obtain accurate results.