What is the significance of the equivalence point in a titration?

The equivalence point in a titration is a critical concept that indicates the point at which stoichiometric amounts of the reactants have reacted. At this stage, the number of moles of titrant added is chemically equivalent to the number of moles of the substance being analyzed. In an acid-base titration, for example, this is the point at which all the acid has reacted with the base or vice versa, leading to a complete neutralization.

Understanding the equivalence point is essential because it signifies the endpoint of the reaction based on the ideal stoichiometric ratio of the reactants. Determining this point allows chemists to accurately calculate the concentration of the unknown solution. This is distinctly different from other points in the titration process, such as the start of the reaction, which marks the beginning of the addition of titrant, or saturation levels that concern solubility rather than completeness of reaction.