What is the primary objective of titration in acid-base chemistry?

The primary objective of titration in acid-base chemistry is to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. During a titration, a solution of known concentration (the titrant) is gradually added to a solution of unknown concentration until the chemical reaction between them reaches completion, usually indicated by a color change or a specific measurement of pH. By knowing the volume and concentration of the titrant used to reach this point, one can calculate the concentration of the unknown solution using stoichiometric relationships from the balanced chemical equation.

This process is fundamental in analytical chemistry as it allows chemists to quantify the amount of acid or base in a given solution, which is essential for a variety of applications, from lab experiments to industrial processes. The accuracy in determining the unknown concentration relies on carefully observing the endpoint of the titration, but the principal goal is to ascertain that concentration rather than merely measuring pH levels or producing a specific pH.