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

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
right click on the axis, choose Format Axis, change Major/Minor Tick Mark settings

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

Is there 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 Format Axis, change Major/Minor Units

Two Different Methods

there are two methods of analysis that will be shown
geometric method
requires a ruler, a pencil, and the titration graph
12 10
pH

A Typical Titration Curve

Weak Acid Titration Curve

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

mid point

8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30

equivalence point

pick your method (either will work)

40

50

Net Titrant Volume Added (mL)

Find the Equivalence Point (Geometric method)

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

Find the Equivalence Point (Geometric method)

3) using a ruler, Weak Acid Titration Curve measure the distance 12 between the top intersection and the 10 bottom intersection
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

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 12 line from the 10 equivalence point to the x-axis
pH 8 6 4 2 0 10 20 30 Buret Volume (mL)

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)

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

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

equivalence point 5) where the line crosses the y-axis is the pH at the equivalence point (pH = 7.2 in this case)
30 40 50 Buret Volume (mL)

mid point

mid point

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

How to Interpret Titration Curves

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

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

For you Excel Aficionados

equivalence point
use the first derivative d pH / d Vol plot volume as x and 1st derivative as y in a 2nd series on graph the spike in the graph points to the equiv. pt.

Find the Equivalence Point (derivative method)

Weak Acid Titration Curve
7

mid point
make a new graph and reverse the axes for the pH curve use the first derivative d Vol / d pH plot pH as x and 1st derivative as y in a 2nd series on graph the spike in the graph points to the mid point
pH
x axis = pH values; y-axis = Vol values

1)1) identify identify volume volume 10 value value atat the the peak peak
8 (28.5 mL in this case) 6 4 2 0 10 20 30

pH 1st deriv.

5 4 3 2 1 0

use extra columns in the spreadsheet to make these calcs

equiv. pt. deriv. (d pH / d Vol) = (pH2 - pH1)/(Vol2 - Vol1) midpoint deriv. (d Vol / d pH) = (Vol2 - Vol1)/ (pH2 - pH1)
or just the reciprocal of the equiv. pt. derivative

40

50

Buret Volume (mL)

Find the Mid Point (derivative method)

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

7.3 in this case)

1st Derivative (mL -1)

12