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Titration Calculations

Chemistry: IB Diploma Higher Level, topic 6.8.2

Calculations of Titrations

We have seen before how to carry out titration calculations using titer values and balanced equations. We shall recap these calculations.

Information provided

Information provided

  • Before starting your calculation you will be given:
  • The balanced equation for the reaction.
  • The volume and concentration of the titer.
  • The volume of the other reactant.
  • You will, most often, be asked to find the concentration of this other reactant.
First step

First step

  • Calculate the moles of the titer using the two pieces of information we know about the titer: the volume and the concentration. Use the equation:
  • Moles = volume x concentration
Second step

Second step

  • Find the number of moles of the other component:
  • A titration is stopped at the exact point of neutralization so we can say that the mole ratio will be the same as in the balanced equation.
  • Examples:
    • If the mole ratio (from equation) is 1:1, the component will have the same number of moles as the titer.
    • If the mole ratio (from equation) is 2:1, the component will have twice as many moles as the titer.
Third step

Third step

  • Find the concentration of the other component:
  • We can rearrange the equation:
  • Moles = concentration x volume
  • To get:
  • Concentration = moles ÷ volume
Units

Units

  • Units are very important in titration calculations!
  • Moles → mol
  • Volume → L
  • Concentration → mol L−1
  • Forgetting to convert the volume from ml to L is where most people make mistakes!
  • 1 mL = 0.001 L
  • Sometimes volume is given in cm 3.
  • 1 cm 3 = 1 mL

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