Preface

Volumetric analysis, or titrimetry, has been an essential tool of the chemist since the mid-1600s. The success and longevity of volumetric analysis is no doubt primarily due to its relative simplicity and also the fact that manual titrations require relatively inexpensive equipment. Despite this simplicity, the skills required for the technique are far from trivial—it demands a sound theoretical knowledge of the underlying chemistry, as well as a high degree of manual dexterity. For these reasons, volumetric analysis is still included in virtually all course specifications, ranging from GCSE to undergraduate-level chemistry. Of course volumetric analysis is not restricted to educational settings. Titrations are still performed in industry as a means of monitoring the purity of feedstocks and products, and although many of these are now performed by automated titration systems, some are still performed manually.

Despite the inclusion of volumetric analysis in virtually all school, college and university courses in chemistry, there have been few dedicated texts published in this area. This is perhaps due to its inclusion in many of the fine analytical chemistry texts on the market, as well as the general chemistry textbooks aimed at school/college-level students. However, the ever increasing demands on teachers’ time means that we can ill afford hours spent searching online or in libraries for details of a particular titration. Furthermore, we find that the standard repertoire of standardising solutions and determining how much iron is in ferric ammonium sulphate no longer satisfies our students. They want to see how volumetric analysis can be applied to their world—a world of food, cosmetics, medicines and fashion. Whilst some of these are more amenable to volumetric analysis than others, if we are to inspire a future generation of analytical chemists, we must become innovative, and mix the traditional with the contemporary in both our teaching and in our practical labs. This is one of the aims of this text.

Each chapter begins with a review of essential underlying theory and is followed by a series of well-tested practicals. The theory may be in much greater depth than is required for a particular course of study, but it is expected that the student/teacher is sufficiently familiar with the requirements of their course to be able to select what is needed. The practicals can be taken and used as stand-alone laboratory work, or as part of a series. These structured practicals are followed by a selection of open-ended investigations which may be particularly useful for those students pursing vocational science courses, such as the Extended Diplomas in Applied Science, as well as Higher National Certificate/Diploma. A ‘compendium’ of routine acid–base titrations is also provided at the end of Chapter 5 which provides additional practical work for students following A-level/IB/Leaving Certificate or Higher Grade Chemistry.

There are a number of people who have helped bring this book into being. My family and friends, who reminded me that I ought to be at my computer and not in front of the TV; Peter Boyle for helping with artwork and fetching cups of Earl Grey to my office; my colleagues, Bernard McKeaveney and Caroline Kelly, who provided a teacher's perspective; the legions of students who have passed through my lab over the years, only to have burettes forced upon them at a moment's notice to test out another titration; and finally, the staff at RSC Publishing who kept me on the straight and narrow and provided support whenever it was needed. Of course, all errors are my own, and I could welcome feedback from readers, especially those who have used the practical work and developed useful modifications.

PACMcP

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