Ekvivalenssipisteitä

Ekvivalenssipisteitä is a Finnish term that translates to "equivalence points" in English. This concept is primarily used in chemistry, particularly in titrations. An equivalence point is a specific point in a titration where the amount of titrant added is stoichiometrically equal to the amount of analyte present in the sample. In simpler terms, it's the point where the reaction between the titrant and the analyte is just complete, meaning all of the analyte has reacted with the titrant.

The equivalence point is a theoretical concept. In practice, it is often detected using an indicator or an instrument that monitors a change in a physical property of the solution, such as pH, conductivity, or color. The point where this change is observed is called the endpoint. Ideally, the endpoint should coincide with the equivalence point, but slight differences can occur due to the indicator's properties or instrumental limitations.

Understanding the equivalence point is crucial for determining the concentration or amount of an unknown substance. By knowing the volume and concentration of the titrant used to reach the equivalence point, one can calculate the corresponding amount of the analyte using the stoichiometry of the reaction. This principle forms the basis of many quantitative analytical methods in chemistry.