The Ostwald theory of acid-base titration, proposed by German chemist Wilhelm Ostwald in 1909, is based on the concept that during a titration reaction between an acid and a base, the reaction proceeds in a series of steps and the pH of the solution changes gradually rather than abruptly.
According to the Ostwald theory, in a titration reaction, the acid and base react to form ions that are present in equilibrium with undissociated molecules of the acid and base. The pH of the solution at any given point in the titration is determined by the ratio of the concentrations of these ions.
The Ostwald theory also explains how indicators work in acid-base titrations. Indicators are substances that change color in response to changes in pH. According to the Ostwald theory, indicators react with H+ or OH- ions in the solution and change color at specific pH ranges corresponding to the equivalence point of the titration.
Overall, the Ostwald theory provides a more detailed understanding of the mechanism of acid-base titrations and helps in predicting the pH changes that occur during the titration process.
Ostwald theory of acid base titration
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