3-D topos can be generated to visualize how pH behaves during titration and dilution procedures. The surfaces are constructed by plotting computed pH values above a composition grid with volume of base added in one direction and overall system dilution on the other. Surficial features correspond to behavior in aqueous solutions. Equivalence point breaks become cliffs that pinch out with dilution. Buffer effects become plateaus. Dilution alone generates 45o ramps. Sample surfaces are analyzed for acetic acid, CH3COOH (a weak monoprotic acid); hydrochloric acid, HCl (a strong acid); oxalic acid, HOOCCOOH (a weak diprotic acid) and L-histidine dihydrochloride, C6H9N3O2 ∙2HCl (a weak triprotic acid). Two rarely discussed pH behaviors are illuminated – buffering against dilution and pseudo-buffering. The pH TOPOS software to generate other surfaces is provided as a downloadable Excel workbook. Other downloadable files include a PowerPoint lecture and teaching suggestions for pH topo surfaces.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/topos/1001/thumbnail.jp
