Henderson Hasselbalch Relationship and Weak Acid Titration

Henderson-Hasselbalch relation is generally the simplified theoretical framework used to introduce students to acid-base titration. However, it is not always valid and its limitations should be made clear to chemistry students. The appropriate parameter to evaluate its validity is K a /C 0 , in connection with Ostwald dilution law. For more advanced students, it is possible to deduce analytical expressions that always fit accurately acid-base titrations and allow an evaluation of Henderson Hasselbalch relation. Gran plot appears as a particularly sensitive technique to the breakdown of Henderson Hasselbalch relation.