The Titration Competition aims to inspire high school students with a passion for Chemistry, especially its hands-on aspects, to enhance their scientific abilities and comprehension. This competition offers participants the chance to engage in experimental work within a university laboratory in their state (where possible), providing them with valuable experience. 

Open to Students based in Australia. 

 In this experiment, each team member conducts two rounds of acid-base titrations to ascertain the unknown concentration of a weak acid within a supplied solution. The potential weak acids include ethanoic acid (commonly known as acetic acid), oxalic acid, or potassium hydrogen phthalate. Prior to determining the concentration of the unknown acid, a solution of the strong base sodium hydroxide is standardized using the provided standard acid.

The competition unfolds through distinct investigation activities in each state and territory. These activities aim to pinpoint the most skilled teams, qualifying them for participation in the national finals. 

Teams are evaluated based on the reported values for the unknown weak acid used in the preliminary titration investigation within their respective state or territory. The ranking is determined by how closely the teams approximate the actual concentration for each acid. Although there may be slight variations in the volumetric analyses from state to state, the requirements remain equivalent.

To enter the Competition, please consult the information provided further down this page, corresponding to your state or territory. 

A guide to Titration

Tips for Titration Coordinators

Videos to assist with Titration Competition

Australian Capital Territory 

 

Contact: Mark Ellison - mark.ellison@anu.edu.au

Competition date: 6th May 2025, 5.00pm-7.30pm

Competition location: Australian National University (Science Teaching Building); Bldg. 136

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for registration links

New South Wales

 

Contact: Joshua Westerway -  Joshua.Westerway@det.nsw.edu.au

 

Registrations for all venues will be open from 9am on Friday 21st March via the links below and on our website.
 
Please make note of the following important information:
Where venues are at capacity, schools are welcome to join the waitlist.
Payment is with a credit/debit card only, places are only confirmed once payment has been received. A confirmation email  with receipt will be sent once your places have been secured.
 

Competition dates & venues: 

University of Sydney: 4th & 5th June 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

University of Sydney, Narrabri Campus: 26th June 2025

University of New South Wales: 30th May 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

University of Technology, Sydney: 13th June 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus: 27th June 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus: 27th June 2025

Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus: 27th June 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

Macquarie University: 28th June 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus: 27th June 2025

University of Newcastle, Ourimbah Campus: 27th June 2025

University of Wollongong: 12th June 2025 **AT CAPACITY, WAITLISTS APPLY**

Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga: 6th June 2025

Charles Sturt University, Orange: 4th June 2025

University of New England, Armidale: 11th June 2025

Southern Cross University, Lismore: 19th & 20th June 2025

  

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of Sydney

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of Sydney, Narrabri Campus

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of New South Wales

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of Technology, Sydney

Register for the Titration Competition at Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus

Register for the Titration Competition at Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus

Register for the Titration Competition at Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus

Register for the Titration Competition at Macquarie University

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of Newcastle, Ourimbah Campus

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of Wollongong

Register for the Titration Competition at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga

Register for the Titration Competition at Charles Sturt University, Orange

Register for the Titration Competition at the University of New England, Armidale

Register for the Titration Competition at Southern Cross University, Lismore

Northern Territory

 

Contact: Vinuthaa Murthy - raci-ntcmt@raci.org.au raci-ntcmt@raci.org.au

Register here: Link to be made available in 2025

Registration deadline: TBC

Competition date: Prelim round: August (date TBC); Final round October (date TBC);

Competition location: Prelim round at own school; Final round at Charles Darwin University.

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for registration links

 Queensland

 

General Enquiries Contact: Tim Dargaville -  racichemicaleducationgroup@gmail.com

Competition dates/Locations:

James Cook University, Cairns: 7th May 2025

James Cook University, Townsville: 7th May 2025

There is no registration fee for students participating in Cairns or Townsville

 

University of Queensland: 24th May 2025

Queensland University of Technology: 31st May 2025

Griffith University: 7th June 2025

Registration fees for UQ, QUT & Griffith will be $27.50 - $38.50 per team depending on venue and equipment hire.

 

  

 

Register for the QLD Titration Competition in your Own School

Please note the following information for those teams participating in their own school:

Each team (3 students per team) will receive a set of 6 x 5 mL vials. Each vial will contain approximately 0.4 g (2.0 x 10-3 mol) of potassium hydrogen phthalate, a soluble weak organic acid which is a primary standard. Three of the vials will be the Standard samples and three will be the Unknown samples. The task for each student is to use 2 sets of acid-base titrations to firstly standardise a solution of NaOH (0.02M provided by the school), then to find the concentration and hence the number of moles of acid in the Unknown Sample.

Samples will be mailed to schools together with a risk assessment, instructions, tips for practice and links to instructional videos. Students should be given 2 hrs to complete the titrations during term 2 with results returned by 20 June.

Register for the Competition at James Cook University, Cairns & Townsville

Register for the Competition at The University of Queensland

Register for the Competition at the Queensland University of Technology

Register for the Competition at Griffith University, Nathan Campus

Register for the Competition at Griffith University: Gold Coast Campus

South Australia

 

Contact: Ian McMahon - imcmahon33@yahoo.com

Registrations Open: 11th March 2025

Registration deadline: 27th May 2025

Result submission deadline: 3rd July 2025

State Final: August 2025 (exact date TBC)

 

 

Register for the Titration Competition in South Australia

Please note the following information:

The state coordinators will note the number of teams entered by each participating school, and will prepare an appropriate number of vials of standard i.e. known oxalic acid and of unknown oxalic acid samples to be posted or delivered to school offices. 

It is important to note on each of the vial labels, the volume of distilled water for the solid sample to be prepared as the titrant solution.

Further information on procedure, safety and calculations will be circulated by email from the state coordinators.

Tasmania

 

Contact: Brendan Gourlay - bgourlay@gyc.tas.edu.au

Cost per team: $20

Registrations open: 2nd April 2025

Registration deadline: 20th June 2025

Competition to run: 21st July - 22nd August 2025

 

Register for the Titration Competition in Tasmania

Additional information:

Again, the competition will run as it has for the last few years. Students compete in teams of three with each student standardising some sodium hydroxide solution with a known mass of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) and then using their standardised solution to determine the mass of unknown sample of KHP. We will then process all orders and prepare samples to be shipped to schools prior to the start of Term 3. Once we receive orders we will ship samples to your school and you can complete the titrations at a convenient time in your calendar during the first 5 weeks of Term 3 (21st of July to 22nd August).

Victoria

 

Contact: RACI VIC Branch - raci-viccmt@raci.org.au

Registration deadline: 27th June 2025

Competition results to received by: 12th September 2025

 

 

 

 

Register for the Titration Competition in Victoria

Western Australia

 

Contact: Nathan Curnow - Nathan.Curnow@education.wa.edu.au

Registration Deadline: 30th May 2025

Cost: $28.50 - $38.50 + booking fees

Dates:

Curtin University: 17 June 2025

ECU Joondalup: 24 June 2025

ECU Bunbury: 24 June 2025

Murdoch University: 5 June 2025

Note: For those planning to participate at their own school, early registration is encouraged as the samples will need to be prepared and mailed to schools in advance of the competition.

  

 

 

 

Register for the Titration Competition at your school in the Western Australia

Register for the Titration Competition at Curtin University

Register for the Titration Competition at ECU Joondalup

Register for the Titration Competition at ECU Bunbury

Register for the Titration Competition at Murdoch University

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