Learning Aim A: Undertake titration and colorimetry to determine the concentration
of solutions
Titration:
Titration is used to determine the amount of a component in a sample by adding
to the measured sample an exact known amount of another substance to which the
component of interest reacts at a particular known rate. It is a chemical analysis method.
In titration titrant is a solution with a known concentration which is added slowly into
another solution with known volume and unknown concentration until the reaction is
neutralized. The amount of titrant reacted is called titration volume. The neutralization
point is the experimental moment at which the reaction is identified as complete by a
signal. This signal could be a change in the colour of an indicator. There are four types of
titrations Acid Base Titration, Redox Titration, Precipitation Titration and Complexometric
Titrations. Many industries rely on titration in the development and analysis of key
chemical compounds. Any industry that has something to do with pH levels requires
titration in one way or the other. For example Titration is useful in biology as well as
chemistry. Titration is employed in biology labs when lab workers want to know what
chemical concentrations to use for anaesthetizing animals. Titration is a technique for
assessing the pollution level in rainfall or snow. Titration is a technique for determining
the degree of contamination and the filtration and cleaning requirements for clean
water. It is useful in determining salt and sugar levels in foods. Titration tests are
performed to figure out how much of a chemical is in a sanitizer or cleaning solution.
Titration is also used by the cosmetic industry where it specifies the type of base that is
appropriate for a cosmetic, such as coconut oil. Titration is necessary for determining the
pH and acidity of raw milk needed to make cheese. When working with patient blood and
urine samples, lab technicians frequently use titration. Titration is used in the
manufacturing of biodiesel fuel in the car industry. To be usable, biodiesel fuel must have
the correct pH.
Equipment:
Balance, water, 25ml pipette, 100ml beaker, thermometer, burette +
stand, conical flask, methyl orange indicator, sodium carbonate solution.