What Titrants Are Used For

When a person mentions the word titration, a lot of blank faces will stare back at them, because many (unless you are scientist) do not know what this means! However, even scientists may struggle in explaining what titration maybe, because this is a term that is more commonly used in chemistry laboratories and medical centres. These have their important purposes for measuring dosages for medication and for essential chemical analysis.

The process of titration consists of using the reagent titrant to react with a solution of the analyte (substance used for titration in which the concentration is unknown). The idea is to determine the exact concentration of the analyte, which cannot be determined until the endpoint of the process, whereby the solution will return to its neutral pH level. Using a chemical indicator, the solution will change colour permanently at the endpoint giving the analyser more information about the solution.

Some acid based titration experiments use pH levels to determine the acidity levels in the solution, helping them to indicate closely the concentration levels of the analyte. Some processes do not need an indicator to determine the endpoint of the experiment, because the solution will change colour or turn colourless, based on how much the titrant has been reduced.

Concentration levels of the titrant and analyte must not be too high, therefore, like many chemical analysis processes, they are normally diluted. As the analyst will not know what the concentration of the analyte will be, the only other way of getting the process accurate is to make sure that the right concentration of the titrant is added. This requires a strong mathematical calculation from the analyst, ensuring that the precise amount is used in order to obtain the results needed. Furthermore, the end result will be multiplied by the dilution factor.

Titration is used in medical analysis for determining the dosage given to patients. This is usually conducted by skilled and experienced analysts, under strict conditions and with failsafe accuracy. The lab worker will begin the process by using a measured beaker that will contain an exact measurement of the titrant and sometimes a small amount of the indicator. Normally a burette is used to provide a precise measurement for the transference of the titrant. How one determines that the right indicator has been applied is at the point in when the solutions change colour, making it possible to calculate the precise measurement of the reagent and reactant before they neutralise each other.

This process is especially important for the development of medical drugs, development of safe chemical house cleaning products and determining the right dosage of medication to each patient.