Titration is used in analytical chemistry to determine acids, bases, reductants, oxidants and other species. Titrations can usually occur in reactions such as redox reactions and acid-base reactions. During the process, two important stages known as endpoint and equivalence point are reached. A point of equivalence in a titration refers to a point at which the added titrant is chemically equivalent to the sample analyte. On the other side, endpoint is a point where the solution changes colour. The main difference between equivalence and endpoint is that the equivalence point is a point where the chemical reaction comes to an end, while the endpoint is the point where the colour change occurs in a system.
Endpoint vs Equivalence Point
| Endpoint | Equivalence Point |
| Point where the indicator changes colour. | The point at which the titrant is chemically equivalent to the analyte in the sample. |
| Comes after the equivalence point. | Comes before the endpoint. |
| Weak acids can have only one endpoint. | Weak acids can have multiple equivalence points. |
Although the endpoint is normally regarded as the equivalence point, they are not the same. But since there is only a slight difference between an equivalent point and an endpoint, it can be considered the same for laboratory purposes. The main difference between an equivalence point and an endpoint is that the former marks the end of the reaction, whereas the latter is a point where the indicator changes colour.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is the endpoint?
The endpoint is the point where the colour change occurs in a system. It depicts the completion of titration.
What is an equivalence point?
A point of equivalence in a titration refers to a point at which the added titrant is chemically equivalent to the sample analyte.
What is the primary difference between endpoint and equivalence point?
The main difference between equivalence and endpoint is that the equivalence point is a point where the chemical reaction comes to an end, while the endpoint is the point where the colour change occurs in a system.
What is titration?
Titration is an analytical method primarily used in determining the concentration of an unknown sample.
Give an example of an indicator.
Phenolphthalein is a commonly used indicator in acid-base titration.
Also Read:-
| Redox Reactions | Oxidation and Reduction Reaction |
| Acids, Bases and Salts | Neutralization Reaction |
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