potentiometric titration

chemical process

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July 1, 2026

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A potentiometric titration is a chemical analysis technique used to determine the quantity of a substance in a sample. It involves gradually adding a solution of known concentration, called a titrant, from a burette to the sample. The process continues until an equivalence point is reached, where an exact equivalent amount of titrant has been added.

Instead of a visual color change, potentiometric titrations use electrical measurements to detect the end point. Specifically, they measure the potential difference between two electrodes. This method is particularly useful for detecting the end points of oxidation-reduction titrations, where a plot of potential versus the volume of titrant added shows a distinct change at the equivalence point.12

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titration
Potentiometric titrations involve the measurement of the potential difference between two electrodes of a cell; conductometric titrations, the electrical conductance or resistance; amperometric titrations, the electric current passing during the course of the titration; and coulometric titrations, the total quantity of electricity passed during the
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Potentiometric titrations involve the measurement of the potential difference between two electrodes of a cell; conductometric titrations, the electrical conductance or resistance; amperometric titrations, the electric current passing during the course of the titration; and coulometric titrations, the total quantity of electricity passed during the
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chemical analysis
Inert-indicator-electrode potentiometry
A potentiometric titration curve is a plot of potential as a function of the volume of added titrant. The curves have an “S” or backward “S” shape, where the end point of the titration corresponds to the inflection point.
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A potentiometric titration curve is a plot of potential as a function of the volume of added titrant. The curves have an “S” or backward “S” shape, where the end point of the titration corresponds to the inflection point.
Read More