PHAR 212 PHARMACEUTICAL

CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
 TITRATION

• WHAT IS TITRATION
• TITRATION PROCEDURE
• TYPES OF TITRATION
• ACID-BASE TITRATION

• INDICATORS
• CALCULATION
TITRATION
Titration, Also Known as Titrimetry: Is an analytical quantitative method that is used to calculate the

concentration of a given analyte in a mixture by slow addition of one solution of a known

concentration (called a titrant) to a known volume of another solution of unknown concentration
until the reaction reaches neutralization, which is often indicated by a color change.
Titration General Procedure
The process of titration involves the preparation of a titrant/titrator, which is a standard solution
whose volume and concentration are predetermined. this titrant is then made to react with the
analyte equivalence point is reached; at that stage, the concentration of the analyte can be
determined by measuring the amount of titrant consumed.
Depending on the types of reactions involved, titrations can be classified as follows:

TYPES OF
TITRATIO
N

•Acid-base •Redox •Precipitation Complexom

Titrations Titrations Titrations etric
Titrations
ACID-BASE TITRATION

Acid-base titrations is also called neutralization titrations, When strong acid and strong base
react with each other or any of the strong partner reacts with the weak one (acid or base), an
essentially irreversible quantitative reaction takes place. The titration process is stepwise
addition from a burette (drop by drop) a standardized solution (solution with known
concentration) of base (or acid) to Erlenmeyer conical flask containing known volume of acid
(or base) solution, in the presence of proper indicator.
Acid-base neutralization is a process in which acid reacts with base to produce water and salt. The
driving force of this reaction is formation of a low-energy and stable covalent bond in water, together
with the second product, mostly ionized salt.
The “neutralization” term does not mean neutral pH, but the state in which the same mole numbers
of both acid and base have been mixed. To detect the moment of neutralization, we use an indicator,
which for example, can change its color when neutralization is reached.

If the reacting partners differ in their dissociation degree, a hydrolyzing salt is formed, and the pH of
the “neutralized” solution can be:
• less than 7 (for strong acid mixed with weak base).
• More than 7 (for strong base mixed with weak acid).
• Equals 7 (when strong acid reacts with a strong base or when a weak acid reacts with a weak
base).
Acidimetry is the determination of concentration of acidic substances by titrating with a standard
base solution, and alkalimetry is the measurement of concentration of basic substances by titrating
with a standard acid solution.

The end-point (equivalence point) of acid-base reactions is observed when all the acids have been
neutralized by the base and vice versa by using indicators which are substances that changes colors
near or close to the end point of the reaction.

Molar Ratio: In order to use the volume and concentration of the titrant to determine the concentration of the
analyte, we need to know the amount of each species that is involved in the reaction. The molar ratio is the
amount, in moles, of each species that must react. This ratio is determined by looking at the moles of each
species in the chemical equation ( chemical equation should be balanced).
How to Estimate the Equivalence Point
There are two common methods of estimating the equivalence point:

 Use of a pH Meter
For this method, a graph is made plotting the pH of the solution as a function of the volume of added
titrant. Called titration curve.

 Use of an Indicator
This method relies on observing a color change in the solution. Indicators are weak organic acids or
bases that are different colors in their dissociated and undissociated states. Because they are used in
low concentrations, indicators do not appreciably alter the equivalence point. The point at which the
indicator changes color is called the end point.
Strong acid – strong base titrations (=7)

Imagine we are titrating a strong acid such as hydrochloric acid against a strong base such as sodium hydroxide
HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) ⇾ H2O (l) + NaCl (aq)

And removing the spectator ions leaves us with the ionic equation for neutralization
H+ (aq) + OH– (aq) ⇾ H2O (l)

At eq. point or neuralization [H+]=[OH-]

Strong acid – weak base titrations (less than 7)

At the beginning of the titration pH changes more slowly as the strong acid is added (compared with a strong acid – strong
base titration curve). Once again, the initial weak base solution is actually a buffer system containing the weak base and its
conjugate acid.
NH3 (aq) + H2O (l) ⇌ NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

As H+ are added they react with the OH– present, shifting the equilibrium position to the right: pH is maintained as the
H+ concentration hardly changes.

Why is the equivalence point lower than pH7?

The equivalence point is lower than pH7 because although once the neutralization reaction is complete and [H +(aq)] = [OH–(aq)],
the ammonium chloride salt formed hydrolyses / reacts with water producing acidic H 3O+ ions.

NH4+ (aq) + H2O (l) ⇌ NH3 (aq) + H3O+ (aq)

HCl + NH3 NH4Cl

Weak acid and strong base (More than 7)

Weak acids are not fully dissociated in solution so to begin with we have a lower [H+], a higher starting pH and the
presence of both ethanoic acid molecule and ethanoate ions in an equilibrium system .
CH3COOH (aq) ⇌ CH3COO– (aq) + H+ (aq)

As both the acid (HA) and the conjugate base (A–) are present, the solution acts as a buffer initially when the OH– ions are
added. These OH– ions react with the H+ ions causing the equilibrium position to shift to the right, generating more H +. As
a result, the H+ ion concentration and hence the pH changes very slowly at the start of the titration.

CH3COOH (aq) + NaOH (aq) ⇾ CH3COO–Na+ (aq) + H2O (l)

Indicators

What is an acid-base indicator?

Indicators are conjugated acid-base pairs added to a titration mixture in small molar amounts,
in order to monitor the pH. The acidic and basic forms of indicators have different colors.
The pH range, at which an indicator color begins to change, depends on its pK (pH at which
molecule of indicator is dissociated in 50 %). Generally, we must select proper indicator for
kind of titration: the indicator should change its color at or near the point of equivalence.

How is an indicator used?

Weak acids are titrated in the presence of indicators which change under slightly alkaline
conditions. Weak bases should be titrated in the presence of indicators which change under
slightly acidic conditions.
TIPS FOR TITRATION

1) Solutions must be shaken well before starting.

2) First, a known volume of the analyte is placed in a flask, and a few drops of an acid-base indicator,
such as phenolphthalein, are added.
3) Next, the standard solution is placed into a burette. This solution is also called as titrant.
4) Then, the titrant is added drop by drop to the analyte while swirling the flask. Titration must be
performed slowly and always hold stopcock one hand while swirling the flask with other hand.
5) Check the tip of the burette for leak or air bubble. To remove an air bubble, whack the side of the
burrett tip while the solution is flowing. If an air bubble is present during a titration, volume readings may
be in error. If there is a leak, assemble the stopcock properly.
Perfect end point Overly titrated
 To calculate the concentration of the examined solution in case of ( 1:1 molar ratio)
we use the formula:

C1 × V1 = C2 × V2

C1 - unknown concentration of acid (or base) in the Erlenmeyer flask

C2 - known concentration of standardized base (or acid) solution in the burette
V1- volume of the acid (or base) solution in the Erlenmeyer flask
V2- volume of the standardized base (or acid) solution added from the burette to
the Erlenmeyer flask

Note: To calculate the concentration of the examined solution in case of ( more than 1:1 molar ratio)
Multiply the number of moles of the titrant with the molar ratio to get the number of moles of the analyte

It means this number of moles (n) of the titrant will neutralize the same number of moles (n) of the
analyte na = nb
(n)
To calculate the concentration of the examined solution in case of ( more than 1:1 molar ratio)

C1×V1×n2=C2×V2×n1
C1 - unknown concentration of acid (or base) in the Erlenmeyer flask
C2 - known concentration of standardized base (or acid) solution in the
burette
V1- volume of the acid (or base) solution in the Erlenmeyer flask
V2- volume of the standardized base (or acid) solution added from the
n1- number
burette to theofErlenmeyer
moles of theflask
unknown acid (or base) in the Erlenmeyer flask

n2- number of moles of the known standardized base (or acid) solution in
the burette
Example
Example 2. 28,9 mL of H2SO4 was completely titrated with 38.4 mL of a 0,25M NaOH solution.
What is the concentration of H2SO4

1 H2SO4 + 2 NaOH 1 Na2 SO4 + 2 H2O

n of H2SO4 = n of NaOH n of H2SO4 = n of NaOH

0.0289L × C = (0,25M)(0,0384L) 2 (0.0289L) × C = 1 (0,25M)(0,0384L)

0.0289L × C =0.0096 mol × ½ molar ratio 0.0578L × C = 0.0096 mol/0.0578L

C = 0.0048 mol/ 0.0289 L C = 0.1661 M Of H2SO4

C = 0.1661M OF H2SO4