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Recognition of endpoints (EP)

Apr 12, 2021

Article

Like many of you, I gained my first practical titration experience during my chemistry studies in school. At this time, I learned how to perform a manual visual endpoint titration – and I can still remember exactly how I felt about it.

Using a manual buret filled with titrant, I added each drop individually to an Erlenmeyer flask that contained the sample solution (including the analyte to be measured) and the indicator which was added prior to the titration. With each drop and even slight color change of my sample solution, minutes passed with increasing uncertainty. I asked myself, «Have I already reached the true endpoint, should I add another drop, or have I even over-titrated?» You have probably been in the same situation yourself!
 

Sound familiar to you? Don’t forget to check out our related blog post:

How to avoid titration errors in your lab


Several years have passed since then, and I am glad that I no longer have to face the challenges of performing a manual titration because Metrohm offers the possibility of automated titrations.

If you want to know how to determine the endpoint in an automated titration, I will give you all the answers you need. In the following article I will cover these topics (click to go directly to each):

Different detection principles – an overview

At this point you may ask yourself—if not visually, how the endpoint (EP) can be detected in an automated titration? Well, aside from the visual endpoint recognition (e.g., by a color change, the appearance of turbidity, or appearance of a precipitate), a titration EP can also be detected by the automated monitoring of a change in a chemical or physical property which occurs when the reaction is complete.

As shown in the table below, there are many different detection principles: