Titration Curves (Edexcel International A Level Chemistry)

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Titration Curves - Interpretation

  • During a titration a pH meter can be used and a pH curve plotted
  • A pH curve is a graph showing how the pH of a solution changes as the acid (or base) is added
  • The result is characteristically shaped graph which can yield useful information about how the particular acid and alkali react together with stoichiometric information

Characteristics of a pH curve, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

The features of a pH curve

  • All pH curves show an s-shape curve and the midpoint of the inflection is called the equivalence or stochiometric point
  • From the curves you can
    • Determine the pH of the acid by looking where the curve starts on the y-axis
    • Find the pH at the equivalence point
    • Find volume of base at the equivalence point
    • Obtain the range of pH at the vertical section of the curve

Four types of acid-base titrations

  • There are four combinations of acids and alkalis that you should know about:
    • strong acid + strong base
    • weak acid + strong base
    • strong acid + weak base
    • weak acid + weak base

pH curves 1, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notespH curves 2, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

pH curves for the four types of acid-base titrations

  • Without titles for the graph you can easily recognise which combination is shown by looking at the starting and ending pH and deducing whether the acid and alkali are strong or weak
  • Sometimes you may see pH titration curves which show pH plotted against volume of acid added
  • This produces the mirror image graph from which you can get all the same information

pH curves - different versions, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Comparing different versions of pH titration curves

Choosing an Indicator

  • Not all indicators are suitable for every type of titration
  • Indicators behave like weak acids and form an equilibrium between two coloured species:

HA(colour 1)begin mathsize 14px style rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoon end style H+ + A- (colour 2)

  • The equilibrium constant, Ka, for indicators, is known as KIn and is normally expressed in the logarithmic form, pKIn
  • The working pH range of an indicator is a range of pH on either side of the pKIn value
  • For example, the pKIn of methyl orange is 3.7
  • Below pH 3.7 the dominant colour is colour 1 (red for methyl orange) and above it is colour 2 (yellow for methyl orange)
  • The range of change for a weak acid-strong base titration is around pH 8-10
  • Using methyl orange for this titration won't work because the range of change is far too high
    • You would see the indicator changing to yellow before you reach the end-point
  • In this case, you need to use an indicator with a high pH range such as phenolphthalein

Examiner Tip

The word base and alkali are being used interchangeably here, but you should know an alkali is a soluble base.Since we are dealing with titrations here, the bases are always in solution so they are also alkalis.

Titration Curves - Application

  • In this example, strong sodium hydroxide, NaOH (aq), is being added to weak ethanoic acid, CH3COOH (aq)

NaOH (aq) + CH3COOH (aq) → CH3COONa (aq) + H2O (l)

  • The pH on the intercept on the y axis starts at roughly 3 due to the relative strength of the ethanoic acid
  • The initial rise in pH is steep as the neutralisation of the weak acid by the strong base is rapid
  • Ethanoate ions (conjugate base to ethanoic acid) are formed which then creates a Buffer
    • A buffer consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid

  • At this point, the buffer formed will resist changes in pH so the pH rises gradually as shown in the buffer region
  • The half equivalence point is the stage of the titration at which exactly half the amount of weak acid has been neutralised
    • [CH3COOH (aq)] = [CH3COO- (aq)]
    • At this point, it is important to note that the pKa of the acid is equal to the pH
      • pKa = pH at half equivalence 
  • The equivalence point in a weak acid - strong base titration is above 7

Weak acid strong base (1), downloadable IB Chemistry revision notes

Weak acid - strong base pH curve 

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Sonny

Author: Sonny

Expertise: Chemistry

Sonny graduated from Imperial College London with a first-class degree in Biomedical Engineering. Turning from engineering to education, he has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Sonny enjoys sharing his passion for science and producing engaging educational materials that help students reach their goals.