Final answer:
A titration experiment determines the concentration of an acid or base by reacting a known concentration with the unknown solution until neutrality is reached, indicated by a pH indicator or meter.
Step-by-step explanation:
A titration experiment can be used to find the concentration of a strong acid or a strong base by performing a neutralization reaction. To determine the unknown concentration, one reacts a known volume of a solution with a known concentration, typically referred to as the titrant, with the solution whose concentration is unknown, the analyte. An indicator or pH meter is used to identify the point of neutrality, known as the equivalence point, where the amount of hydrogen ions [H+] equals the amount of hydroxide ions [OH-]. By noting the volume of titrant added to reach this point, the concentration of the unknown solution can be calculated using the stoichiometry of the reaction.
For example, in a titration of 0.100 M HCl with 0.100 M NaOH, if one knows the volume of NaOH required to neutralize the HCl, the concentration of HCl can be calculated. The neutralization reaction has a 1:1 molar ratio, so the moles of NaOH added equal the moles of HCl present. This stoichiometric relationship between the two reactants is the key to determining the concentration of the unknown solution.