Titrations

Question 1

what do titrations show you?

Answer 1

exactly how much acid is needed to neutralise a quantity of alkali

Question 2

titration method

Answer 2

1. using a pipette and pipette filler, add some alkali (25cm3) to a conical flask, along with two or three drops of indicator
2. fill a burette with the acid and make sure to do this below eye level
3. using the burette, add the acid to the alkali a bit at a time, giving the conical flask a regular swirl - go especially slowly when you think the end-point is about to be reached
4. the indicator changes colour when all the alkali has been neutralised - phenolphthalein is pink in alkalis but colourless in acids
5. record the volume of acid used to neutralise the alkali and its best to repeat the process for more reliable results