ACID-BASE TITRATIONS

Titration curves:

An acid-base titration is a useful experimental method for determining also the amount of an unknown acid or base in solution and the pKa. In an acid-base titration, the pH of the solution is measured with a glass electrode, as reaction between an acid and a base occurs. An acid-base titration is achieved by using an acid solution and a base solution and adding one to the other. The solution that is added is described the titrant solution; this is added to the analyte solution, and the process is called titration. Generally the titrant is a strong acid or a strong base as appropriate. The results are plotted as the pH of the solution versus the volume of titrant added. It is called a pH titration curve.

Fig. 1. The titration reactions of a strong base and a strong acid. (a) pH titration curve for reaction of an acid analyte with a base titrant; (b) corresponding dpH/dV plot; (c) pH titration curve for reaction of a base analyte with an acid titrant; (d) corresponding dpH/dv plot