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Monday, August 2, 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of non-aqueous titration

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of non-aqueous titration which is a type of titration in which the solute is dissolved in a non-water-based solvent.

Titration is a quantitative chemical analysis also known as the volumetric or titrimetry method. It is a process in that a titrant of known concentration is filled in a burette added to a sample solution of unknown concentration until the reaction is complete, usually; an indicator is used to determine the endpoint.

Non-aqueous titration is a type of titration in which weakly basic or acidic compounds are performed in a solvent medium that does not contain water. The analyte is dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent and titrated with a titrant which is an acid or a base.

The theory of non-aqueous titration is the same as that of acid-base titration, according to which a substance that can donate a proton to another substance, is known as acid, and a substance that accepts a proton is called the base. In non-aqueous titration there are different types of solvents are used such as aprotic solvents, protophilic solvents, protogenic solvents, and amphiprotic solvents, etc.

Advantages of non-aqueous titration:

  • The major advantage of non-aqueous titration is that it is used to titrate the organic acids or bases that are not soluble in water, they can be dissolved in non-aqueous solvents.
  • It is capable of titration of very weak acids or bases that cannot be titrated in water.
  • Non-aqueous titration can also be used for the titration of mixtures of acids.
  • Organic acids with strength comparable to water can be readily titrated in a non-aqueous solvent.
  • It can also be used to titrate samples containing mixtures of acids.
  • This type of titration is simple to perform and does not require special laboratory apparatus or glassware.
  • It can provide a rapid and precise result with internal indicators.
  • This is very significant in pharmacopoeial assays.
  • Non-aqueous titrations are preferred for analyzing biological matters.
  • It is possible to automate the process using the potentiometric method.

Disadvantages of non-aqueous titration:

  • The major advantage of non-aqueous titration over aqueous titration is that non-aqueous titration solvents are less stable than aqueous solvents.
  • Since this is an open system, temperature and moisture can affect the results, so they need to be maintained.
  • The solvent required to perform non-aqueous titrations is expensive than that of aqueous titrations.
  • It can only work with a non-aqueous medium, so the indicator has to be prepared in a non-aqueous medium.
  • This titration is non-specific; therefore there is a possibility that impurities may interfere.
  • Compared with aqueous solvents, a volatile solvent can pollute the environment.
  • Non-aqueous solvents should be calibrated after each use in non-aqueous titration.

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