Titration Competition

The RACI's Titration Competition is designed to encourage secondary students who enjoy Chemistry, particularly its practical side, to develop their scientific skills and understanding. It provides students an opportunity to experience conducting an experiment in a laboratory environment at a local university in their state and the chance to compete at a national level.

What is the Titration experiment? 

Each team member performs two sets of acid-base titrations in order to determine the unknown concentration of a weak acid in a solution that is supplied to them. This weak acid is either ethanoic acid (commonly known as acetic acid), oxalic acid or potassium hydrogen phthalate. A solution of the strong base sodium hydroxide is standardised against the standard acid provided, before being used to determine the concentration of the unknown acid.

How does the competition work?

Each state and territory has varying preliminary investigation activities leading to the identification of the most proficient teams that will qualify to participate in the national component (finals) of the competition. Refer to state or territory-based information (on the right hand side of this page) for the specific information for each location. 

How does the judging work? 

Judging is based on the values each team reports for whichever unknown weak acid is being used in the preliminary titration investigation within their state or territory. Teams are ranked on how close they get to the actual concentration for each acid. These volumetric analyses vary slightly from state to state,but are equivalent in their requirements. 

It is endeavoured that the top teams in each state or territory competition will be invited to participate in the national finals held in Term 3. All finalists complete the same analysis using the provided samples of solid potassium hydrogen phthalate. Some students will do this at university campuses, others at school. 

National Titration winners will be announced at the start of Term 4. All national finalists receive a gold or silver badge and a team plaque and certificates are awarded to outstanding teams. 

Titration Competition Rules, Guide and history

A Guide to Titration (Updated Feb 2022, this document is still relevant for 2024)

Tips for Titration Coordinators

ANTC Dr Trevor G Appleton Memorial Award Trophy

2024 Competition Information

Each State will be responsible for the running of the Titration Competition in 2024. Please see the list below for participating States and the relevant registration and contact information. Please note that there will not be a National Final in 2024 while we review our National Programs.

Australian Capital Territory

Contact: Mark Ellison - [email protected]

Venue: Australian National University (Science Teaching Building); Bldg. 136, Sullivans Creek Road, Acton ACT 2601

Dates: Thursday 9th May 2024 5.00-8.00pm

Registration: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1199542? 

New South Wales

Contact: Siobhan Wills - (details to be provided in due course)

Dates: Details to be provided in due course

Registration: Link to be provided in due course

Northern Territory

The Titration Competition will not be run in the Northern Territory in 2024

Queensland

Contact: Details to be provided in due course

Dates: Details to be provided in due course

Registration: Link to be provided in due course

South Australia

Contact: Ian McMahon - [email protected]

Dates: Registration deadline May 22; Result submission deadline July 4;

Registration: https://www.trybooking.com/CPYTR

Tasmania

Contact: Brendan Gourlay - [email protected]

Dates: Registration deadline May 28; Result submission deadline August 30;

Registration: https://www.trybooking.com/CQXYT

Victoria

Contact: Details to be provided in due course

Dates: Details to be provided in due course

Registration: Link to be provided in due course

Western Australia

Contact: Nathan Curnow - [email protected]

Dates: The closing date for own school entry registrations to be received is Friday 31st May 2024.
The closing date for competition results to be received back from schools via email is Friday 28th June 2024.

ECU Joondalup will be running the competition on Monday 24th June 2024. Registration for ECU closes on Friday 31st May 2024.

Curtin University will be running the competition on Tuesday 18 June 2024. Registration for Curtin closes on Friday 31st May 2024.

Registration: At own school - register here

ECU Joondalup - register here

Curtin University - register here

School Training Videos

Tips to Improve your Titration Skills

See all our Titration videos