CONDUCTIVITY

MEASUREMENTS



by
Dr. Ngoh Gek Cheng
10 Sept 2013

CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT &
CONDUCTOMETRIC TITRATION
What? Why? How?
-Study on motion ions in solution
-Behaviour of electrolytes, analysis
Concentration control
-Transfer of charges via electrolyte
(Resistance, R, ohm )

Fundamental
Measurement
Imagine a scenario ( electrodes
immerse in electrolyte)
Conductivity, G 1/R (
-1
)

But G decreases with length, l,
G increases with cross sectional
area,A

Conductivity
G = K (A/l); Sm
-1
Where K = conductivity (electrical conductance)

Conductivity depends on ions present and
also the concentration of the electrolyte

What is EQUIVALENT CONDUCTANCE?

EQUIVALENT
CONDUCTANCE
It is MOLAR CONDUCTIVITY,
= K/C (Sm
2
mol
-1
)
Note: C = molar concentration of
electrolyte
increases with decreases in con
n
&
vice versa.



m

Equivalent Conductance
at Infinite Dilution
increases with dilution in both weak
& strong electrolytes
Strong electrolytes: increases
slightly as concentration increases
Weak electrolytes: normal at
concentration close to zero
* The limiting value at zero
concentration =
m

Equivalent Conductance
at Infinite Dilution ,
for any electrolyte is the sum of
the equivalent ionic (i.e. cations and
anions) conductances at infinite
dilution.





0
0
Ionization & Dissociation
Strong electrolyte : fully ionized

Weak electrolyte: partially ionized
= / ; =degree of ionization
E.g.
Express K
a
the ionization constant in terms of
and C. Where C = total acid concentration.

m

0

A H HA
Conductometric Titration
Strong Acid HCl with NaOH

i. Initial solution : high content of highly mobile H
+
High conductance
ii. Progress: Base (OH
-
) is added to remove H
+
Conductance decreases
iii. Final solution: H
+
+ OH
-
Equivalent point
Q. How would the plot conductance v
s
Base look?
Q. What happen if base is added continuously?
Weak Acid & Strong Base
i. Initial Solution: low content of H
+
Low conductance
ii. Progress: base added, poor conducting acid
converts to highly ionised salt
Conductance goes up
iii. Final solution: acid is neutralised
End point
Q. What happen with excess bases added?
Thank you