Acid–Base Titrations

Product Details

Most products we use every day, including food, beverages, medication and cleaning solutions, have acidic and basic properties! The amount or concentration of acid or base in a sample may be determined by acid–base titration.

In this advanced-inquiry lab, students conduct a series of acid–base titrations and determine the concentrations of two unknowns. The lab begins with an introductory activity in which students qualitatively analyze an acid and base using pH paper. This activity provides a model for a guided-inquiry experiment, during which students collect quantitative titration data using a buret and pH meter. Each group uses two acids and two bases. One of the acids will have a known molarity and the other will have an unknown molarity. The same applies to the two bases. Students will graph titration curves from the collected data and determine the concentration of each unknown. A variety of acids and bases, strong and weak, are provided for the class to perform different combinations of titrations.

Complete for 24 students working in pairs. A version of this lab is available as a Wet/Dry Advanced Inquiry Laboratory Kit for One Period (Catalog No. AP8945).

2024 CED Alignment:  

Unit 8 - Acids and Bases  

Topic 8.5 - Acid-Base Titrations 

Description of the Lab 

Students titrate a monoprotic acid with a strong base and create a titration curve from pH data. The lab helps students identify the equivalence point and analyze buffer regions, reinforcing concepts in pH, conjugate acid-base pairs, and the mathematical relationships behind titrations. 

Learning Objectives 

• LO 8.5.A – Explain results from the titration of a mono- or polyprotic acid or base solution, in relation to the properties of the solution and its components. 

 Skills Students Will Learn 

• 4.A – Predict and/or explain chemical properties or phenomena (e.g., of atoms or molecules) using given chemical theories, models, and representations. 
  In this lab: Students explain titration curves using acid-base theory. 

• 5.E – Determine a balanced chemical equation for a given chemical phenomenon. 
  In this lab: Students write and balance the neutralization reaction between the acid and base. 

• 6.A – Make a scientific claim. 
  In this lab: Students determine the unknown acid’s concentration and support it with titration data.