What is the Difference Between Equivalence Point and Endpoint?

The main difference between the equivalence point and the endpoint lies in their definitions and the stages they represent in a titration experiment:

• Equivalence Point: This is the point at which the added titrant is chemically equivalent to the analyte in the sample. It marks the completion of the chemical reaction and is usually determined by the stoichiometry of the reaction.
• Endpoint: This is the point where the color change occurs in a system, indicating the completion of the titration. The endpoint is detected by a color change or intensity shift, usually observed in acid-base reactions.

The equivalence point comes before the endpoint, and although weak acids can have multiple equivalence points, they typically have only one endpoint. Titration is the process of performing a volumetric analysis on a sample by adding a given quantity of a reagent, called the titrant, to a solution, called the titrate.

Comparative Table: Equivalence Point vs Endpoint

Here is a table comparing the differences between the equivalence point and the endpoint in a titration process:

The main difference between the equivalence point and the endpoint is that the equivalence point marks the completion of the chemical reaction, while the endpoint is a point where the indicator changes color. Although these two points are not the same, they can be considered the same for laboratory purposes, as there is only a slight difference between them.