Check the acid-base titration kit to ensure that all items required for the chosen titration are present.
Wash all glassware and rinse with deionized water. This reduces cross contamination from airborne particles. Deionized water must be used because standard water possesses ions that interfere with the titration process.
Set up the buret stand according to the provided documentation. This apparatus includes a buret stand and a large buret. The buret is attached to the stand with a clamping arm located on either side of the stand.
Fill the buret with the provided "stock" solution. The stock solution is an acid solution of known properties. Specifically, the molarity, pH and composition are known.
Fill an appropriate size flask with the unknown solution.
Add several drops of indicator solution to the unknown solution in the flask.
Place the flask under the buret so the tip of the buret is about 1 inch inside the flask.
Record the initial volume reading on the large buret.
Drip the stock solution very slowly into the flask.
Swirl the contents of the flask to aid in the dissipation of the indicator color.
Stop the dripping of the stock solution the moment the indicator color stops disappearing during the swirling motion. This indicates that the "end point" of the titration has occurred.
Record the final volume of the buret flask.
Subtract the final volume from the initial volume. This volume is known as "Delta V" and is used in the lab accompanying the titration procedure from the kit.