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Test prep MCAT
Chemical processes
Titrations
Titrations
Titration of a weak base
with a strong acid
Titration of a weak base
with a strong acid
(continued)
Acid-base titration curves
Titration curves and acid-
base indicators
Redox titrations
Test prep · MCAT · Chemical processes · Titrations
Acid-base titration curves
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Before we start discussing about titration and
titration curves, we should quickly refresh the
concept of a weak/strong acid and weak/strong
base.
A strong acid dissociates (or ionizes) completely
in aqueous solution to form hydronium ions
(H3 O+ )
​
A weak acid does not dissociate completely in
aqueous solution to form hydronium ions (H3 O+ ) ​
A strong base dissociates completely in aqueous
solution to form hydroxide ions (OH- )
A weak base does not dissociate completely in
aqueous solution to form hydroxide ions (OH- )

Examples of weak/strong acids and bases

Type Examples
Strong hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid
Acids (H2 SO4 ), nitric acid (HNO3 )
​ ​ ​

Weak acetic acid (CH3 COOH), hydrofluoric

​

Acids acid (HF), oxalic acid (COOH)2 ​

Strong sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium

Bases hydroxide (KOH), lithium hydroxide
(LiOH)

Weak ammonium hydroxide (NH4 OH), ​

Bases ammonia (NH3 ) ​

Weak acids and weak bases always exist as

conjugate acid-base pairs in an aqueous solution
as represented below

Here, HA is the acid and A- is termed as the

conjugate base of HA
In the above reaction, A- is a base and HA is the
conjugate acid of A-

Rule of thumb is: Weak acids have strong

conjugate bases, while weak bases have strong
conjugate acids. As shown in the above two
reactions, if HA is a weak acid, then its conjugate
base A- will be a strong base. Similarly, if A- is a
weak base, then its conjugate acid HA will be a
strong acid.

How do we define ‘titration’?

Titration is a technique to determine the

concentration of an unknown solution. As
illustrated in the titration setup above, a solution
of known concentration (titrant) is used to
determine the concentration of an unknown
solution (titrand or analyte).

Typically, the titrant (the solution of known

concentration) is added through a burette to a
known volume of the analyte (the solution of
unknown concentration) until the reaction is
complete. Knowing the volume of titrant added
allows us to determine the concentration of the
unknown analyte. Often, an indicator is used to
signal the end of the reaction, the endpoint.
Titrant and analyte is a pair of acid and base.
Acid-base titrations are monitored by the change of
pH as titration progresses.

Let us be clear about some terminologies before

we get into the discussion of titration curves.

Titrant: solution of a known concentration,

which is added to another solution whose
concentration has to be determined.

Titrand or analyte: the solution whose

concentration has to be determined.
Equivalence point: point in titration at which
the amount of titrant added is just enough to
completely neutralize the analyte solution.
At the equivalence point in an acid-base
titration, moles of base = moles of acid and the
solution only contains salt and water.
Acid-base titrations are monitored by the change
of pH as titration progresses

Indicator: For the purposes of this tutorial, it’s

good enough to know that an indicator is a weak
acid or base that is added to the analyte
solution, and it changes color when the
equivalence point is reached i.e. the point at
which the amount of titrant added is just enough
to completely neutralize the analyte solution.
The point at which the indicator changes color is
called the endpoint. So the addition of an
indicator to the analyte solution helps us to
visually spot the equivalence point in an acid-
base titration.

Endpoint: refers to the point at which the

indicator changes color in an acid-base titration.

What is a titration curve?

A titration curve is the plot of the pH of the
analyte solution versus the volume of the titrant
added as the titration progresses.
Let’s attempt to draw some titration curves now.

1) Titration of a strong acid with a strong base

Suppose our analyte is hydrochloric acid HCl

(strong acid) and the titrant is sodium hydroxide
NaOH (strong base). If we start plotting the pH
of the analyte against the volume of NaOH that
we are adding from the burette, we will get a
titration curve as shown below.

Point 1: No NaOH added yet, so the pH of the

analyte is low (it predominantly contains H3 O+
​

from dissociation of HCl).

As NaOH is added dropwise, H3 O+ slowly starts

​

getting consumed by OH- produced by

dissociation of NaOH. Analyte is still acidic due
to predominance of H3 O+ ions.
​

Point 2: This is the pH recorded at a time point

just before complete neutralization takes place.
Point 3: This is the equivalence point (halfway up
the steep curve). At this point, moles of NaOH
added = moles of HCl in the analyte. At this
point, H3 O+ ions are completely neutralized by
​

OH- ions. The solution only has salt (NaCl) and

water and therefore the pH is neutral i.e. pH = 7.

Point 4: Addition of NaOH continues, pH starts

becoming basic because HCl has been
completely neutralized and now excess of OH-
ions are present in the solution (from
dissociation of NaOH).

2) Titration of a weak acid with a strong base

Let’s assume our analyte is acetic acid

CH3 COOH (weak acid) and the titrant is sodium
​

hydroxide NaOH (strong base). If we start

plotting the pH of the analyte against the
volume of NaOH that we are adding from the
burette, we will get a titration curve as shown
below.
Point 1: No NaOH added yet, so the pH of the
analyte is low (it predominantly contains H3 O+
​

from dissociation of CH3 COOH). But acetic acid

​

is a weak acid, so the starting pH is higher than

what we noticed in case 1 where we had a
strong acid (HCl).

As NaOH is added dropwise, H3 O+ slowly starts

​

getting consumed by OH- (produced by

dissociation of NaOH). But analyte is still acidic
due to predominance of H3 O+ ions.
​

Point 2: This is the pH recorded at a time point

just before complete neutralization takes place.

Point 3: This is the equivalence point (halfway up

the steep curve). At this point, moles of NaOH
added = moles of CH3 COOH in the analyte. The
​

H3 O+ ions are completely neutralized by OH-

​

ions. The solution contains only CH3 COONa salt

​

and H2 O.
​
Let me pause here for a second - can you spot a
difference here as compared to case 1 (strong acid
versus strong base titration)??? In the case of a
weak acid versus a strong base, the pH is not
neutral at the equivalence point. The solution is
basic (pH ~ 9) at the equivalence point. Let’s
reason this out.

As you can see from the above equation, at the

equivalence point the solution contains
CH3 COONa salt. This dissociates into acetate
​

ions CH3 COO- and sodium ions Na+ . As you will

​

recall from the discussion of strong/ weak acids

in the beginning of this tutorial, CH3 COO- is the
​

conjugate base of the weak acid CH3 COOH. So,

​

CH3 COO- is relatively a strong base (weak acid

​

CH3 COOH has a strong conjugate base), and will

​

thus react with H2 O to produce hydroxide ions

​

(OH- ) thus increasing the pH to ~ 9 at the

equivalence point.

Point 4: Beyond the equivalence point (when

sodium hydroxide is in excess) the curve is
identical to HCl-NaOH titration curve (1) as
shown below.
3) Titration of a strong acid with a weak base

Suppose our analyte is hydrochloric acid HCl

(strong acid) and the titrant is ammonia NH3 ​

(weak base). If we start plotting the pH of the

analyte against the volume of NH3 that we are
​

adding from the burette, we will get a titration

curve as shown below.

Point 1: No NH3 added yet, so the pH of the

​

analyte is low (it predominantly contains H3 O+

​

from dissociation of HCl).

As NH3 is added dropwise, H3 O+ slowly starts
​ ​

getting consumed by NH3 . Analyte is still acidic

​

due to predominance of H3 O+ ions.​

Point 2: This is the pH recorded at a time point

just before complete neutralization takes place.

Point 3: This is the equivalence point (halfway up

the steep curve). At this point, moles of NH3 ​

added = moles of HCl in the analyte. The H3 O+ ​

ions are completely neutralized by NH3 . But

​

again do you spot a difference here??? In the case of

a weak base versus a strong acid, the pH is not
neutral at the equivalence point. The solution is in
fact acidic (pH ~ 5.5) at the equivalence point.
Let’s rationalize this.

At the equivalence point, the solution only has

ammonium ions NH4 + and chloride ions Cl- . But
​

again if you recall, the ammonium ion NH4 + is ​

the conjugate acid of the weak base NH3 . So ​

NH4 + is a relatively strong acid (weak base NH3

​ ​

has a strong conjugate acid), and thus NH4 + will ​

react with H2 O to produce hydronium ions

​

making the solution acidic.

Point 4: After the equivalence point, NH3 ​

addition continues and is in excess, so the pH

increases. NH3 is a weak base so the pH is above
​

7, but is lower than what we saw with a strong

base NaOH (case 1).

4) Titration of a weak base with a weak acid

Suppose our analyte is NH3 (weak base) and the

​

titrant is acetic acid CH3 COOH (weak acid). If we

​

start plotting the pH of the analyte against the

volume of acetic acid that we are adding from
the burette, we will get a titration curve as
shown below.

If you notice there isn’t any steep bit in this plot.

There is just what we call a ‘point of inflexion’ at
the equivalence point. Lack of any steep change
in pH throughout the titration renders titration
of a weak base versus a weak acid difficult, and
not much information can be extracted from
such a curve.

To summarize
In an acid-base titration, a known volume of
either the acid or the base (of unknown
concentration) is placed in a conical flask.

The second reagent (of known

concentration) is placed in a burette.

The reagent from the burette is slowly added

to the reagent in the conical flask.

A titration curve is a plot showing the

change in pH of the solution in the conical
flask as the reagent is added from the
burette.

A titration curve can be used to determine:

1) The equivalence point of an acid-base

reaction (the point at which the amounts of
acid and of base are just sufficient to cause
complete neutralization).

2) The pH of the solution at equivalence

point is dependent on the strength of the
acid and strength of the base used in the
titration.
 -- For strong acid-strong base titration, pH =
7 at equivalence point

-- For weak acid-strong base titration, pH >

7 at equivalence point

-- For strong acid-weak base titration, pH <

7 at equivalence point

[Attribution and references]

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Aram Durgerian 5 years ago

more

Why do amino acids, which I'm assuming are

weak acids, have equivalence points below 7,
as opposed to above 7 seen above, when
titrated with a strong base like NaOH?
(11
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5 years
m…
Hillary B. ago

Amino acids behave as polyprotic

acids that have more than one
dissociable proton because of the
amide and carboxylate
 functionality. They essentially act
as diprotic acids with two different
equivalence points. One
equivalence point below 7 and one
above seven for the amino acid
alanine for example.

Typically, the conjugate base that is

formed from the FIRST dissociation
of a polyprotic acid is still
considered a weak acid itself and
will undergo acid hydrolysis with
water. Therefore producing a pH at
the first equivalence point that is
less than 7.
1 (28
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comment votes)

Phoebe Houle 5 years ago

more

What is the half-way to the equivalence

point?
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4 years
m…
jesse strayer ago

The half equivalence point is the

point where half of the titrant
necessary to neutralize the analyte
has been added. So the amount of
protonated [HA] and deprotonated
[A-] species of the analyte is equal.

When [A-] and [HA] are equal, the

henderson hasselbalch equation,
pH = pKa + log([A-]/[HA]) simplifies
to pH = pKa because [A-]/[HA] = 1
and log(1) = 0.
(27
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alixvanpoperinghe 4 years ago

more

Why does it take the same volume of base to

reach the equivalence point regardless of
whether it is a strong or weak acid?
(5
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elena 3 years ago

more

Assuming the weak base and the

strong base both have the same
concentration, then saying that
they have the same volume also
means the have the same number
of moles. Ultimately it is the
number of moles that matters
because an equivalence point is
reached when the number of moles
of base reacting is the same as the
number of moles of acid reacting
(so the two are neutralized).

The reaction between a weak acid

and a strong base goes essentially
to completion, so for problems we
say that it will. So a weak acid
reacting with a strong base reacts
just as much as a strong acid
reacting with a strong base. Since
the weak and strong acids have the
same molarities, it will require the
same volume (and thus same
number of moles) to reach the
equivalence point when they react
with a strong base.

(6
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surabikiki 4 years ago

more

Can u show where show where the end

point is sin a graph
(4
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Meryl 2 years ago

more
 The endpoint is where the indicator
changes color, which is around the
top (end) of the steep curve.
(3
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Apllo Trn 6 years ago

more

Why does a WB + WA titration curve look

like that?

I thought a buffer can't be made from a SA or

SB. It has to be a Wa and Cb. But what is
going on here? The titration curve looks like
it is behaving as a buffer

1 (4
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comment votes)

Dylan Ofri 6 years ago

more

it depends on the ka/kb of the wA

and weak base, if you are using a
weak acid and its conjugate base
you can use the pKa and it will give
you the equivalence point.
(3
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‫ فاطمة المحتسب‬5 years ago

more

why the normality of NaOH solutions may

change if the solution is exposed ti air for an
extend period of time?
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tyersome 5 years ago

more

CO₂(g) from the air will dissolve in

any aqueous (water based)
solution. It reacts with water
molecules to form carbonic acid (a
 weak acid) H₂CO₃(aq).

This acid releases protons that will

partially neutralize the basic NaOH.
(4
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See 1 more reply

natureforever.care 5 years ago

more

Can you give intuitive sight of what is meant

by steepness of a slope?
(2
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tyersome 5 years ago

more

The size of the angle between the

slope and horizontal.

A larger angle (closer to vertical) is

steeper.

(5
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olivialeelatham 6 years ago

more

In the "Titration of a strong acid with a weak

base" section, HCl is used as the titrant, and
NH3 serves as the titrand/ analyte solution.
However, in the previous 2 videos, NH3 is
used as the titrant, and HCl serves as the
titrand/ analyte solution. Therefore, the
resultant titration curves for the videos and
this article are different even though they
represent the same neutralization reaction.
Does it matter whether the acid versus the
base is used as the titrant versus the titrand/
analyte? Or are both titration curves
accurate representations of this
neutralization reaction? Thank you!
(3
Reply • Comment votes)
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 Thaq 6 years ago
more

You are correct that both curves

are representations of the same
neutralization reaction, but the
difference lies in what happens
before and after the equivalence
point. Thus, you end up with
different graphs

Before the equivalence point, you

have an excess of the
titrand/analyte solution in
comparison to the titrant. In this
lecture, the strong acid is the
analyte so the pH up until the
equivalence point will be quite
acidic. As you can see in the videos,
with the weak base as the analyte,
the pH is initially much higher (until
the equivalence point).

You will see a similar relationship in

terms of the pH after the
equivalence point

However, there should be no

difference in the pH at the actual
equivalence point as the
neutralization reaction is the same:
NH3 + H3O+ = NH4+ + H20

Also note that the pH of the half-

equivalence point will differ in
these two examples for the same
reason

(2
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suyashatmg17 3 years ago

more

Why the part of the curve beyond the

equivalence point is similar in the graphs
 from strong and weak acid even though you
(2
titrated
Reply • aComment
strong acidvotes)
and a weak acid??Downvo
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3 years
m…
Addison Downey ago

After titration, there is no acid left

over. There is only base. Therefore,
the right side of the graph will
approach the pH of the base.
(2
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Sandra Pelayo 2 years ago

more

Why do we titrate the base into the acid

instead of the acid into the base?
(2
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Kian Kyars 2 years ago

more

You can do either or, both are

acceptable forms of performing a
titration. You may be asking this
question due to the fact that the
titration curves of a base into an
acid are much more commonly
used as representations. I believe
this is due to the fact that they
have a positive slope (move to the
top-right), and are thus easier to
understand, but we can titrate both
ways!
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Titration of a weak base with a strong acid (continued)

Titration curves and acid-base indicators