How to Interpret Titration Curves

find the equivalence point

it is the steepest part of the curve where the pH rises the fastest the equivalence point can be used to determine the equivalent weight (molar mass) of the acid

find the mid point

located in the center of the buffer region geometrically halfway between the equivalence point and the beginning of the titration sometimes it is a little more complicated than this - see the example the midpoint determines the pKa of the acid

How to Interpret Titration Curves

things to do first
graph your data as seen in the next slide make sure you turn on the major and minor tick marks on both axes
double click on the axis and click on the patterns tab)

there is enough precision in the tick marks

you should have at least 1 mL or smaller for the minor tick mark on the x-axis you should have at least 0.2 pH units or smaller for the minor tick mark on the y-axis

Two Different Methods

there are two methods of analysis that will be shown
geometric method
requires a ruler, a pencil, and the titration graph

1st derivative method

requires a spreadsheet and some formula entries gives you cool graphs with the 1st derivative pointing to the equivalence and mid points scores you brownie points with the instructors

pick your method (either will work)

A Typical Titration Curve

Weak Acid Titration Curve
12 10

mid point

pH

8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30

equivalence point

40

50

Buret Volume (mL)

Find the Equivalence Point (Geometric method)

1) using a ruler, draw lines that 12 the flat, follow more horizontal 10 part of the curve
pH
8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30 Buret Volume (mL)

Weak Acid Titration Curve

equivalence point 2) draw a line that follows the flat, more vertical part of the curve
40 50

Find the Equivalence Point (Geometric method)

3) using a ruler, Weak Acid Titration Curve measure the distance 12 the top between intersection and the 10 bottom intersection
pH
8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30 Buret Volume (mL)

equivalence point

4) the geometric center of this line segment is the equivalence point

40 50

Find the Equivalence Point (Geometric method)

Weak Acid Titration Curve
5) draw a vertical line from the 10 equivalence point to the x-axis
12

pH

8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30 Buret Volume (mL)

equivalence point 6) where the line crosses the x-axis is the volume at the equivalence point (28.7 mL in this case)
40 50

Find the Mid Point (Geometric method)

Weak Acid Curve 1) if there is a steep rise in the Titration pH at the beginning of the graph, 12 draw a line that follows the steep part 10 of the curve
pH
8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30 40 50 Buret Volume (mL)

mid point

Find the Mid Point (Geometric method)

Weak Acid 2) using a ruler, measure the Titration Curve distance between the far left and 12 right intersections
10

pH

8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30

equivalence point 3) the geometric center between these points is the mid point

mid point

40

50

Buret Volume (mL)

Find the Mid Point (Geometric method)

Weak Titration Curve 4) draw a horizontal line Acid from the mid point to the y-axis
12 10

pH

8 6 4 2 0 10 20

equivalence point 5) where the line crosses the x-axis is the volume at the equivalence point (pH = 7.2 in this case)
30 40 50

mid point

Buret Volume (mL)

How to Interpret Titration Curves

find the equivalence point
make sure you subtract the initial buret volume! in this case, the initial buret volume was 1.07 mL true equiv. pt. = 28.7 mL - 1.07 mL = 27.63 mL the 3 is the indicate the limit of the significant figures

calculate the equivalent weight (molar mass)

equiv. wt. = (acid mass)/[(NaOH conc)(equiv. pt.)] equiv. wt. = (430.2 mg)/[(0.1139 M)(27.63mL)] equiv. wt. = 136.699 = 137 g/mol

How to Interpret Titration Curves

find the mid point
mid pt = 7.2 = pKa of the acid

For you Excel Aficionados

equivalence point
use the first derivative d pH / d Vol the spike in the graph points to the equiv. pt.

mid point
reverse the axes for the pH curve
x axis = pH values; y-axis = Vol values

use the first derivative d Vol / d pH the spike in the graph points to the mid point

use extra columns in the spreadsheet to make these calcs

1st deriv. (d pH / d Vol) = (pH2 - pH1)/(Vol2 - Vol1) 1st deriv. (d Vol / d pH) = (Vol2 - Vol1)/ (pH2 - pH1)
or just (the first 1st deriv)-1

Find the Equivalence Point (derivative method)

Weak Acid Titration Curve
7

1)1) identify identify volume volume 10 value value atat the the peak peak
pH

pH 1st deriv.

5 4 3 2 1 0

(28.5 mL in this case) 8

6 4 2 0 10 20 30 40 50 Buret Volume (mL)

1st Derivative (mL - 1)

12

Find the Mid Point (derivative method)

Weak Acid Titration Curve
50 identify pH value at the peak 1) 45 (pH 40 = 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2 40 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 4 6 pH 8 10 12 mL 1st deriv. 35

Buret Volume (mL)

1st Derivative (mL)

7.3 in this case)