MCQ Quiz: Acid-Base Titration

Acid-base titration is a fundamental analytical technique and a critical skill for every B.Pharm student. This method is essential for quantitatively determining the concentration of acidic and basic active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients, ensuring product quality and potency. This quiz will test your understanding of titration principles, indicators, neutralization curves, and the theory behind titrating strong and weak acids and bases.


  1. In an acid-base titration, the point where the moles of acid are chemically equivalent to the moles of base is called the:
    • End point
    • Equivalence point
    • Neutral point
    • Indicator point
    Answer: Equivalence point
  2. A substance that changes color at or near the equivalence point of a titration is a(n):
    • Titrant
    • Analyte
    • Buffer
    • Indicator
    Answer: Indicator
  3. The solution of a known concentration used in a titration is the:
    • Analyte
    • Titrant
    • Standard
    • Sample
    Answer: Titrant
  4. A neutralization curve is a plot of pH versus the:
    • Volume of analyte
    • Volume of titrant added
    • Temperature
    • Concentration of indicator
    Answer: Volume of titrant added
  5. For the titration of a strong acid with a strong base, the pH at the equivalence point is:
    • Less than 7
    • Exactly 7
    • Greater than 7
    • Dependent on the indicator used
    Answer: Exactly 7
  6. Which of the following indicators would be most suitable for a strong acid-strong base titration?
    • Phenolphthalein
    • Thymol blue
    • Eriochrome Black T
    • Starch
    Answer: Phenolphthalein
  7. In the titration of a weak acid with a strong base, the pH at the equivalence point is:
    • Less than 7
    • Exactly 7
    • Greater than 7
    • Equal to the pKa of the acid
    Answer: Greater than 7
  8. Which indicator is most suitable for the titration of a weak base with a strong acid?
    • Phenolphthalein (pH range 8.2-10)
    • Methyl orange (pH range 3.1-4.4)
    • Thymolphthalein (pH range 9.3-10.5)
    • Alizarin yellow (pH range 10.1-12.0)
    Answer: Methyl orange (pH range 3.1-4.4)
  9. The theory that states that an acid-base indicator is a weak organic acid or base whose undissociated form has a different color than its ionized form is:
    • The Quinonoid Theory
    • The Lewis Theory
    • Ostwald’s Theory
    • The Arrhenius Theory
    Answer: Ostwald’s Theory
  10. Why is the titration of a weak acid with a weak base generally avoided in analytical chemistry?
    • The reaction does not go to completion.
    • There is no suitable indicator.
    • The change in pH at the equivalence point is not sharp.
    • The reaction is too slow.
    Answer: The change in pH at the equivalence point is not sharp.
  11. The point in a titration where the indicator changes color is the:
    • Equivalence point
    • End point
    • Half-equivalence point
    • Stoichiometric point
    Answer: End point
  12. The solution of an unknown concentration being analyzed in a titration is the:
    • Titrant
    • Standard
    • Indicator
    • Analyte
    Answer: Analyte
  13. In the titration curve of a weak acid versus a strong base, a buffer region is formed:
    • Before any base is added
    • At the equivalence point
    • After the equivalence point
    • Before the equivalence point
    Answer: Before the equivalence point
  14. Which theory explains the color change of indicators as a result of structural changes, specifically tautomerism between benzenoid and quinonoid forms?
    • Ostwald’s Theory
    • Arrhenius Theory
    • Brønsted-Lowry Theory
    • The Quinonoid Theory
    Answer: The Quinonoid Theory
  15. For a good titration, the difference between the end point and the equivalence point should be:
    • As large as possible
    • Minimal
    • Exactly one pH unit
    • Equal to the pKa
    Answer: Minimal
  16. Which of the following is an example of a strong acid?
    • Acetic acid (CH₃COOH)
    • Carbonic acid (H₂CO₃)
    • Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
    • Formic acid (HCOOH)
    Answer: Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
  17. Which of the following is an example of a weak base?
    • Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
    • Potassium hydroxide (KOH)
    • Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂)
    • Ammonia (NH₃)
    Answer: Ammonia (NH₃)
  18. The steep vertical portion of a neutralization curve indicates the:
    • Starting pH
    • Buffer region
    • Equivalence point region
    • Final pH
    Answer: Equivalence point region
  19. Phenolphthalein is colorless in acidic solutions and ______ in basic solutions.
    • Yellow
    • Pink
    • Blue
    • Orange
    Answer: Pink
  20. At the half-equivalence point in the titration of a weak acid with a strong base, the relationship between pH and pKa is:
    • pH > pKa
    • pH < pKa
    • pH = pKa
    • pH = 7
    Answer: pH = pKa
  21. Which of the following pairings would result in a neutralization curve with a starting pH above 7 and an equivalence point below 7?
    • Strong acid vs Strong base
    • Weak acid vs Strong base
    • Strong acid vs Weak base
    • Weak acid vs Weak base
    Answer: Strong acid vs Weak base
  22. The process of determining the exact concentration of a solution is called:
    • Titration
    • Standardization
    • Neutralization
    • Dilution
    Answer: Standardization
  23. Methyl orange is red in acidic solutions and ______ in basic solutions.
    • Pink
    • Colorless
    • Blue
    • Yellow
    Answer: Yellow
  24. The shape of a neutralization curve depends on:
    • The temperature and pressure
    • The concentrations and strengths of the acid and base
    • The indicator used
    • The speed of titration
    Answer: The concentrations and strengths of the acid and base
  25. For an indicator to be suitable for a titration, its pH range of color change must overlap with the:
    • Buffer region
    • Steep portion of the titration curve
    • Starting pH
    • Final pH
    Answer: Steep portion of the titration curve
  26. Which reaction type is the basis for acid-base titrations?
    • Precipitation
    • Redox
    • Neutralization
    • Complexation
    Answer: Neutralization
  27. What happens to the pH of an acidic solution as a strong base is added during titration?
    • It decreases gradually.
    • It increases gradually and then rapidly near the equivalence point.
    • It remains constant.
    • It decreases rapidly and then gradually.
    Answer: It increases gradually and then rapidly near the equivalence point.
  28. An indicator is typically a:
    • Strong acid or strong base
    • Weak organic acid or weak organic base
    • Neutral salt
    • Non-polar solvent
    Answer: Weak organic acid or weak organic base
  29. The titration of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is an example of a:
    • Strong acid vs Strong base titration
    • Weak acid vs Strong base titration
    • Strong acid vs Weak base titration
    • Weak acid vs Weak base titration
    Answer: Weak acid vs Strong base titration
  30. What is the purpose of the buffer region in a weak acid titration curve?
    • It shows the point of complete neutralization.
    • It is a region where the pH changes very slowly upon addition of titrant.
    • It indicates the end point of the titration.
    • It is where the solution is most acidic.
    Answer: It is a region where the pH changes very slowly upon addition of titrant.
  31. In the titration of a weak base with a strong acid, the solution at the equivalence point will be:
    • Acidic
    • Basic
    • Neutral
    • A buffer
    Answer: Acidic
  32. The titration error is defined as:
    • The difference between the equivalence point and the end point.
    • An error in reading the burette.
    • An error in preparing the standard solution.
    • The difference between the starting pH and the final pH.
    Answer: The difference between the equivalence point and the end point.
  33. The titration of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with ammonia (NH₃) is a:
    • Strong acid vs Strong base titration
    • Weak acid vs Strong base titration
    • Strong acid vs Weak base titration
    • Weak acid vs Weak base titration
    Answer: Strong acid vs Weak base titration
  34. According to Ostwald’s theory, the color of an indicator depends on:
    • Its concentration
    • The degree of its ionization
    • The temperature of the solution
    • Its molecular weight
    Answer: The degree of its ionization
  35. The inflection point of a titration curve corresponds to the:
    • Starting point
    • Equivalence point
    • End point
    • Half-equivalence point
    Answer: Equivalence point
  36. Which of these titrations would give the sharpest change in pH at the equivalence point?
    • 0.1 M Acetic acid with 0.1 M Ammonia
    • 0.1 M Acetic acid with 0.1 M NaOH
    • 0.1 M HCl with 0.1 M NaOH
    • 0.01 M HCl with 0.01 M NaOH
    Answer: 0.1 M HCl with 0.1 M NaOH
  37. For a weak acid, the undissociated form (HIn) and the ionized form (In⁻) of an indicator have:
    • The same color
    • Different colors
    • The same structure
    • No color
    Answer: Different colors
  38. A polyprotic acid will show on its titration curve:
    • A single, sharp equivalence point
    • No equivalence point
    • Multiple equivalence points corresponding to each acidic proton
    • A straight line
    Answer: Multiple equivalence points corresponding to each acidic proton
  39. In the titration of a strong acid with a weak base, which indicator is most suitable?
    • Phenolphthalein
    • Methyl red
    • Alizarin Yellow
    • Thymolphthalein
    Answer: Methyl red
  40. The pH of the solution at the equivalence point of a weak acid-strong base titration is determined by the:
    • Hydrolysis of the conjugate base of the weak acid.
    • Hydrolysis of the conjugate acid of the strong base.
    • Amount of excess base added.
    • Initial concentration of the acid.
    Answer: Hydrolysis of the conjugate base of the weak acid.
  41. An indicator’s useful pH range is generally considered to be:
    • pKa ± 1
    • pKa ± 2
    • Exactly the pKa
    • Any pH from 1 to 14
    Answer: pKa ± 1
  42. What is the titrant in the assay of sodium benzoate?
    • A strong acid
    • A strong base
    • A weak acid
    • A weak base
    Answer: A strong acid
  43. The equipment used to accurately deliver the titrant into the analyte solution is the:
    • Beaker
    • Pipette
    • Burette
    • Volumetric flask
    Answer: Burette
  44. Which factor does NOT typically affect the accuracy of an acid-base titration?
    • The choice of indicator
    • The precision of the glassware
    • The stability of the standard solution
    • The color of the analyte solution
    Answer: The color of the analyte solution
  45. Titration of sodium carbonate with HCl will have:
    • One equivalence point
    • Two equivalence points
    • No equivalence point
    • A straight-line curve
    Answer: Two equivalence points
  46. The classification of acid-base titrations is based on:
    • The relative strengths of the acid and base
    • The solvents used
    • The temperature of the reaction
    • The type of indicator used
    Answer: The relative strengths of the acid and base
  47. What is the purpose of preparing a neutralization curve?
    • To determine the concentration of the analyte
    • To help select a suitable indicator for the titration
    • To calculate the temperature change
    • To measure the rate of the reaction
    Answer: To help select a suitable indicator for the titration
  48. In the titration of a diprotic acid like H₂SO₄ with NaOH, the first equivalence point corresponds to the neutralization of:
    • Both protons
    • The second proton
    • Half of the first proton
    • The first proton
    Answer: The first proton
  49. An ideal indicator for a titration should change color:
    • As close to the equivalence point as possible
    • At the beginning of the titration
    • At the half-equivalence point
    • After the equivalence point
    Answer: As close to the equivalence point as possible
  50. The primary chemical reaction in an acid-base titration is the formation of:
    • A precipitate
    • A complex ion
    • Water and a salt
    • A gas
    Answer: Water and a salt

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