noun

titration

ty-TRAY-shuhn

Titration (noun) means a laboratory method for finding the unknown concentration of a solution by slowly adding a solution of known concentration until the reaction is complete, shown by a colour change or a meter reading. Example: “We determined the acid concentration by titration against standard sodium hydroxide.”

noun

A laboratory method for finding the unknown concentration of a solution by slowly adding a solution of known concentration until the reaction is complete, shown by a colour change or a meter reading.

"We determined the acid concentration by titration against standard sodium hydroxide."

"Repeat the titration until three results agree to within 0.1 ml."

In medicine, the gradual adjustment of a drug dose upwards or downwards until the desired effect is reached with the fewest side effects.

"Titration of the dose took six weeks."

"She is still in the titration phase of her thyroid treatment."

How to Use Titration

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAdding a bit at a time until you get exactly the right amount.

When to use it

Technical, used in chemistry and clinical medicine. The verb titrate is common in both fields, and the medical sense is increasingly used loosely for any careful step-by-step adjustment.

Memory tip

The end point is what you observe, usually a colour change; the equivalence point is the exact stoichiometric moment. A good indicator makes the two nearly coincide.

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Easily confused with

dilution calibration → standardisation

Common pairings

acid-base titration titration curve dose titration end point of the titration

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

We determined the acid concentration by _____ against standard sodium hydroxide.

Etymology

From French titrer 'to determine the strength of a solution', from titre 'standard, fineness, proportion'.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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volumetric analysis assay dose adjustment

Related Words

attempt assay

Rhymes for titration

region billion ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the end point and the equivalence point in a titration?

The equivalence point is the moment when exactly enough titrant has been added to react completely with the analyte. The end point is the moment you actually observe a change, such as the indicator turning pink. A well-chosen indicator makes the end point fall as close as possible to the equivalence point.

What is titration in medicine?

It means starting a drug at a low dose and adjusting it in small steps, monitoring the response, until the patient gets the benefit with tolerable side effects. It is standard practice for medications such as antidepressants, insulin and thyroid hormones.

What is the difference between titration and dilution?

Dilution reduces the concentration of a solution by adding solvent. Titration measures an unknown concentration by reacting it with a known one. Dilution changes the sample; titration analyses it.

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