Titration is a common laboratory method of volumetric quantitative chemical analysis to determine the concentration of a substance to be analysed.
It is a technique which involves the use of known volumes of a known substance to quantitatively determine the amount of a specific substance in an unknown given sample.
This skill is one of the fundamental analytical techniques in chemistry and its applications are vast.
It is applied in life sciences, clinical chemistry, water pollution, food analysis and pharmaceuticals to name a few.
There are many kinds of titrations, but the two common titrations are acid–base and reduction-oxidation (REDOX).
Acid–base titration is one of the oldest tools of analytical chemistry. The method was first introduced or described by Glauber (1658).
The experiment is carried out by gradually adding a standard solution (i.e., a solution of known concentration) of titrating reagent, or titrant, from a burette, a long, graduated measuring tube with a stopcock and a delivery tube at its lower end to a solution of unknown concentration of known volume.
The addition of the titrant is stopped when the equivalence point is reached.
This point is detected by a colour change aided with an indicator.
Although, the technique seems simple, one has to understand the theoretical concepts and the experimental skills to perform the titration accurately.
Volumetric techniques are generally introduced and taught at senior level (Year 11 – 13) in secondary schools in the South Pacific and continues to be part of a chemist’s career.
In the Pacific, students encounter lot of challenges and difficulties in performing titration experiments or doing calculations with experimental data due to lack of proper experimental tools and reliable literature.
Students often rely on the explanation provided by the teachers to understand the fundamental experimental concepts of volumetric techniques.
Monitoring the deficiency of titration skills in students in schools and at tertiary level in the Pacific region, the authors of this book were motivated to write this edition that would help enhance students’ learning skills and knowledge in the construction of titration experiments and simultaneously solving titration calculations.
Furthermore, this book can be used as a reference literate to verify titration related questions.
The authors have been very mindful about the language used in writing this book.
They tried to be as objective as possible by discussing the relevant concepts with simple language that gradually changes so it is understandable and suitable for both beginners and experts.
New and technical words have been introduced and defined as the subject develops.
Pictures of the different glassware used in volumetric analysis aids visual memory while worked examples stimulates better understanding of the mathematical calculations.
These features generate interest in reading this book.
There are ten chapters ; starting from Introduction, data handling and calculations, stoichiometry, laboratory safety, solution chemistry and the different types of titrations.
There are numerous experiments, some with complete working while others may be suitable for teachers to try in the school chemical laboratory.
The book provides an open access platform for beginners, experts and researchers from all over the globe on volumetric analysis, as the book contains all the relevant information needed in performing a titration experiment.
The authors have devoted a lot of time to write this book that provides a step-by-step approach on Volumetric Analysis — Titration for Beginners.
* About the authors:
Dr. David Rohindra is an academic in the Faculty of Science Technology and Environment at the University of The South Pacific. He gained his primary and secondary education at Gospel schools. He obtained his Bachelors and Master’s degree in chemistry and a Doctor of engineering in the field of polymer (plastics) Engineering from Tokyo, Japan.
Roselyn Lata is a teaching assistant at the University of The South Pacific in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. She gained her primary and secondary education at Gospel schools and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and computing science and a Master’s degree in renewable energy.
The views expressed are those of the author of this article and not of the University of The South Pacific or any newspaper.
