Titration Calculations Step by Step Cheat Sheet

Key Facts

• Molarity is calculated with $M = \frac{n}{V}$, where $M$ is molarity, $n$ is moles of solute, and $V$ is volume in liters.
• Rearrange molarity as $n = MV$ to find moles when concentration and volume are known.
• Always convert milliliters to liters using $V_{L} = \frac{V_{mL}}{1000}$ before using molarity calculations.
• For a balanced reaction $aA + bB \rightarrow cC + dD$, the mole ratio between $A$ and $B$ is $\frac{a\text{ mol }A}{b\text{ mol }B}$.
• At the equivalence point, the moles of acid and base have reacted in the exact ratio shown by the balanced chemical equation.
• For a monoprotic acid and a hydroxide base reacting in a $1:1$ ratio, $M_{acid}V_{acid} = M_{base}V_{base}$.
• For non-$1:1$ acid-base reactions, use $\frac{M_{acid}V_{acid}}{a} = \frac{M_{base}V_{base}}{b}$ only when $a$ and $b$ are the balanced coefficients for acid and base.
• Percent error in a titration result can be calculated with $\%\text{ error} = \left|\frac{\text{experimental} - \text{accepted}}{\text{accepted}}\right| \times 100\%$.

Vocabulary

Titration

A lab method that uses a solution of known concentration to find the concentration of another solution.

Titrant

The solution of known concentration that is added from a buret during a titration.

Analyte

The solution being tested, usually placed in the flask, whose concentration is unknown.

Endpoint

The point in a titration when the indicator changes color and the titration is stopped.

Equivalence Point

The point where reactants have combined in the exact mole ratio required by the balanced equation.

Molarity

A concentration unit equal to moles of solute per liter of solution, written as $M = \frac{n}{V}$.