An analytical method in which one reactant (the
titrant) is added continuously or stepwise to an
adiabatic or isoperibol vessel containing another reactant. The
enthalpy change(s) of the ensuing reaction(s) causes a temperature change which, when plotted
versus volume of
titrant, may be used to find the
titration endpoint(s). This is the preferred term for experiments producing plots of temperature
versus volume of
titrant in which the main goal is a quantitative determination. Nonetheless, when a calorimetric
vessel is used, such that the
heat capacity is known, thermodynamic parameters may also be estimated from such experiments. An
acceptable synonym in that case is enthalpimetric titration. The use of the adjective
thermometric is justified because of widespread historical and current usage, and because a
titration of necessity implies a chemical reaction. The term
thermometric enthalpy titration has been used, but is not recommended. A method in which the
titrant is a
catalyst for an
indicator reaction that occurs after the endpoint for the analyte reaction should be called a
thermometrictitration with catalytic endpoint detection, not a
catalytic thermometric titration.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 2487
(Nomenclature of thermometric and enthalpimetric methods in chemical analysis (IUPAC
Recommendations 1994))
on page 2490
