Explain how an acid-base indicator works in a titration. What are the criteria for choosing an indicator for a particular acid-base titration?

Short Answer

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An acid-base indicator is a substance that changes color based on the pH of the solution it's in. In a titration, it's used to indicate when the reaction has reached its equivalence point by changing color. The choice of indicator depends on the pH at the equivalence point of the titration, as different indicators change color at different pH values.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Acid-Base Indicators

An acid-base indicator is a substance that changes its color in response to a change in pH. This means it can signal, or 'indicate,' when the solution it is in has a certain pH.
02

Role of Indicators in Titrations

In a titration experiment, an indicator is used to signal when the reaction has reached its equivalence point, or when the solution is neutral. The indicator does this by changing color.
03

Criteria for Choosing an Indicator

The choice of indicator depends on the pH at the equivalence point of the titration. Different indicators change color at different pH values, so the chosen indicator should have a pKa value close to the pH of the titration's equivalence point for an accurate end point determination.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A 0.2688 -g sample of a monoprotic acid neutralizes \(16.4 \mathrm{~mL}\) of \(0.08133 \mathrm{M}\) KOH solution. Calculate the molar mass of the acid.

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