What is the Difference Between Potentiometric and Conductometric Titrations?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The key difference between potentiometric and conductometric titrations lies in the parameters they measure during the titration process:

  • Potentiometric titrations measure the potential difference between two electrodes in a solution, often used in acid-base titrations. These titrations do not require an indicator and are more accurate, making them suitable for automation.
  • Conductometric titrations measure the electrolytic conductivity of the analyte during the titration process. These titrations are suitable for colored analytes and suspensions, providing accurate results.

In summary, potentiometric titrations focus on measuring the potential difference between two electrodes, while conductometric titrations measure the electrolytic conductivity of the analyte. Both methods are used to determine the concentration of an analyte in a solution, but they rely on different parameters for their measurements.

Comparative Table: Potentiometric vs Conductometric Titrations

The key difference between potentiometric and conductometric titrations is that potentiometric titrations measure the potential difference between two electrodes of a cell, while conductometric titrations measure the electrolytic conductivity of the analyte. Here is a table comparing the two types of titrations:

Feature Potentiometric Titration Conductometric Titration
Method Measures potential difference between two electrodes Measures electrolytic conductivity of the analyte
Indicator Does not need an indicator Can be suitable for colored analytes and suspensions
Accuracy More accurate Can give accurate results, but may be less accurate than potentiometric titrations
Automation Can be automated May not be as easily automated as potentiometric titrations
Applications Useful for characterizing acids and determining the concentration of unknown solutions Useful for identifying the concentration of a given analyte in a mixture

In summary, potentiometric titrations are more accurate and can be automated, making them suitable for a wider range of applications. Conductometric titrations, on the other hand, can be used for colored analytes and suspensions, providing accurate results in specific situations.