How do you perform a titration to find concentration?

To find concentration through titration, you gradually add a solution of known concentration to a solution of unknown concentration until the reaction between them is complete.

Titration is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. The process involves gradually adding a solution of known concentration, called the titrant, to a solution of unknown concentration, known as the analyte, until the chemical reaction between the two solutions is complete. This point is called the equivalence point or end point.

To start, you'll need to prepare your workspace with the necessary equipment: a burette, a pipette, a conical flask, and your two solutions. The burette is filled with the titrant, and the pipette is used to measure a precise volume of the analyte into the conical flask.

The titration process begins by slowly adding the titrant from the burette into the conical flask containing the analyte. As you add the titrant, a reaction occurs between the two solutions. It's important to add the titrant slowly, especially as you get closer to the end point, to ensure accuracy.

To identify the end point of the reaction, an indicator is often used. This is a substance that changes colour when the reaction is complete. The choice of indicator depends on the nature of the reaction. For example, in an acid-base titration, phenolphthalein or methyl orange are commonly used.

Once the end point is reached, you note down the volume of titrant used from the burette. With this information, and knowing the volume and concentration of the analyte, you can use the formula c1v1 = c2v2 (where c is concentration and v is volume) to calculate the concentration of the unknown solution.

Remember, accuracy is key in titration. It's a good idea to perform the titration multiple times to ensure your results are consistent.