Acid-base equilibria
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Hi. I am doing my investigation on finding the best procedure to determine the end point of a weak acid - weak base titration. Yet I do not know what to write about in my introduction. (Background theory.) Do you know of any good websites? Thank you.
Ulex writes
You need to recall the reasoning behind your choice of investigation, rather than looking at websites. Students have sometimes complained that our answer to their question poses more questions than it answers. But there is a purpose behind this. Your account needs your thinking, not an adaptation of someone else's.
So, in your introduction you should set out the essential problem.
It is easy to use indicators to find the end point if either or both of the reactants is/are strong. (Why is this so? Demonstrate by means of sketches of typical titration curves). Things are more difficult if both are weak. (Why? Sketch titration curve?). Indicators change colour over a pH range of 2 units or so. (Support with data? Why is this a problem?). Then you can go on to say that you are proposing better/alternative ways of getting an experimental titration curve (What methods? Why are they likely to succeed?).
Risk assessment
Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is said on this website.
For further guidance see our tutorial on Risk Assessment.
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updated: 02 April 2007
