Performing the Titration

Here are the general steps for performing a titration:

1. Clean the buret and fill with the titrant solution.

2. Add a known amount of analyte to an Erlenmeyer flask. The total volume

should usually be between about 25 and 50 mL in the Erlenmeyer before

beginning the titration. You can always add more water to achieve the

appropriate volume because adding water does not change the number of

moles of analyte.

3. Add 2 or 3 drops of indicator to the analyte flask.

4. Record the initial volume on the buret to 2 decimal places.

5. Use the buret to deliver titrant solution to the analyte flask while swirling to

mix.

6. Find the end point by having one single drop or less cause a color change.

7. Record the final volume on the buret to 2 decimal places.

8. Properly dispose of waste solution in Erlenmeyer flask.

Techniques for adding one drop or less

Here are a few different techniques that can be used to add one drop or less of

titrant to the Erlenmeyer flask.

1. Slowly open the stopcock and monitor for a single drop to fall out of the buret

tip and then close the stopcock. This allows you to add exactly one drop.

2. Slowly open the stopcock and monitor for a single drop to emerge from the

tip. Close the stopcock before the drop falls and then rinse the partial drop

into your flask using a water squirt bottle. This allows you to deliver a volume

that is smaller than a drop and should only be used when you are very close

to the end point of the titration.

3. Quickly turn the stopcock half of a turn in one quick motion. Start with the

stopcock closed and then rapidly turn the stopcock 180 degrees so that it is

closed again.

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