Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Acid-Base Titration
An acid-base titration is a quantitative analytical method used to determine the concentration of an acid or base in a solution. In this process, a solution of known concentration (the titrant) is added to a solution of unknown concentration until the reaction reaches its equivalence point, where the amount of acid equals the amount of base. The pH changes during the titration, and indicators or pH meters are often used to determine the endpoint.
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Weak Acid and Strong Base Reaction
In this titration scenario, propanoic acid is a weak acid, and KOH is a strong base. When a weak acid reacts with a strong base, the resulting solution will not reach a neutral pH of 7 at the equivalence point. Instead, the pH will be greater than 7 due to the presence of the conjugate base formed from the weak acid. Understanding the nature of the acid and base involved is crucial for calculating the pH at various points during the titration.
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Strong Acid-Strong Base Titration
Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is a mathematical formula used to calculate the pH of a buffer solution. It relates the pH of the solution to the pKa of the weak acid and the ratio of the concentrations of the conjugate base to the weak acid. This equation is particularly useful in titration problems involving weak acids and their conjugate bases, as it allows for the determination of pH at various stages of the titration, especially before and after the equivalence point.
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Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation