Conductometric titration

All the ions in a solution contribute to the electrical conductance of the solution. However, the contributions of different types of ions to electrical conductance differ, and the transport number of the ion measures the extent to which a given ion contributes to the electrical conductance of an electrolyte solution. Different ions have different transport numbers. Resolving the conductance of a solution to the contributions from the different types of ions is not very easy. Hence conductance measurements is not a specific analytical method for the quantitative analysis of a given ion despite the fact conductance can be measured with high sensitivity (even the conductance of pure water which is very low, can be measured precisely). Conductometry can, however be used selectively to determine the amount of an electrolyte by following a titration in which the electrolyte participates. If the titration reaction involves a change of either the nature of the amount of ions then there will be a change of electrical conductance during the titration. In such cases, the titration may be followed conveniently, using conductometry. A titration carried out with the use of conductometry is know as a conductometric titration.