In a strong acid-strong base titration, the initial compound is referred to as the analyte, while the second compound is the titrant. Unlike weak acids and bases, which require an ICE (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) chart due to their incomplete dissociation, strong acids and bases dissociate completely. Therefore, we utilize an ICF (Initial, Change, Final) chart to analyze the titration process, focusing on moles rather than concentrations.
To determine the equivalence volume (Ve), which is the volume of titrant needed to reach the equivalence point, we apply the relationship between the molarity and volume of the acid and base involved. At the equivalence point, the moles of acid equal the moles of base, expressed mathematically as:
Macid × Vacid = Mbase × Vbase
For example, when titrating 150 mL of 0.100 M NaOH (a strong base) with 0.050 M nitric acid, we can rearrange the equation to find the unknown volume of the acid:
Vacid = (Mbase × Vbase) / Macid
Substituting the known values gives:
Vacid = (0.100 M × 150 mL) / 0.050 M = 300 mL
This indicates that 300 mL of nitric acid is required to reach the equivalence point.
Before any titrant is added, the solution contains only the strong base. For instance, with 150 mL of 0.100 M NaOH, the complete dissociation results in equal concentrations of Na+ and OH-. The concentration of hydroxide ions allows us to calculate the pOH using the formula:
pOH = -log[OH-]
Substituting the concentration gives:
pOH = -log(0.100) = 1
From the pOH, we can find the pH using the relationship:
pH = 14 - pOH
Thus, the pH of the solution is:
pH = 14 - 1 = 13
This analysis illustrates the initial conditions of the titration before any strong acid is added, setting the stage for further exploration of the titration process as the strong acid is gradually introduced.