Definition of Titration

Titration is a common quantitative chemical analytic procedure that is used to determine the concentration of the reacting substance. Titration is also commonly known as volumetric analysis because volume and concentration play a vital role in this procedure. In the titration procedure, a reagent, or a substance that is completely consumed in the reaction, of a given volume and concentration is made to react with the reactant or titrant, which is of unknown volume. By following these reactions, you can easily determine the concentration of the titrant.

History and Origin of Titration

The origin of volumetric analysis dates to around the 18th century when French scientist Francois Henri first developed the burette. However, it was because of Karl Mohr that titration became known worldwide. Mohr popularized the methods and procedure of titration to all corners of the world through his textbook that was published in 1855.

Types of Titration

Various types of titration are used by scientists worldwide. Some of the most common types of titration include acid-base titration, redox titration and complexometric titration.

Acid-Base Titration

Acid-base titration is a branch of volumetric analysis that is generally used to determine the concentration of the acid or the base that is used as the titrant. This method is based on the neutralization reaction that takes place between the acid and the base. An acid-base titration is generally used to determine the purity levels of different chemicals and elements.

Redox Titration

Redox titrations, also known as reduction-oxidation titrations, are a type of titration that is based on the reduction and oxidation reactions that take place. This form of titration is generally used to determine the concentration of chemicals such as iodine and potassium permanganate (KMnO4), which act as oxidizing and reducing agents under different chemical conditions.

Procedure of Titration

Generally, the titration procedure starts by taking a fixed volume of the reactant in a beaker along with a known amount of the indicator. The titrant is taken in a burette flask, which is placed underneath the setup. Then the titrant is allowed to slowly fall into the burette containing the titrant. At a certain point, the titrant changes from its initial color, which is known as the end point. By calculating the volume of the titrant at this point, you can determine the concentration of the titrant used.