How To: Carry out a titration in the lab

The Interactive Lab Primer (ILP) has been developed as part of the Royal Society of Chemistry Teacher Fellowship Scheme, one of the themes of the Chemistry for Our Future program, and initiative which aims to secure a strong and sustainable future for the chemical sciences in higher education. The aim of the ILP is to address the diverse range of experience and skills students bring with them to a university by offering a resource to support their transition from school to the university chemistry laboratory. The ILP is quite simply a visual guide to common laboratory techniques.

This video tutorial will teach you how to carry out a titration in the lab. The technique of volumetric analysis uses the reaction between a solution of known concentration with a solution of unknown concentration. The most common reactions are between acids and bases although many other reactions can be used as the basis of a volumetric method. The addition of one reagent (the titrant) from a burette to another reagent until and end-point is reached is known as a titration. These have to be done with great care and precision to establish reliable and accurate results.

Always make yourself aware of the hazards associated with the chemicals involved in a practical before you even start. If you ever come across a chemical you do not know the hazard of you must assume that is very hazardous until you find otherwise.