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The purpose of using an indicator during an acid-base titration is to determine the endpoint of the titration. The endpoint is the point at which the amount of acid equals the amount of base in the solution, meaning the solution is neutral.

Here are the steps:

1. An indicator is a substance that changes color at or near the endpoint of the titration. The color change occurs because the indicator itself is a weak acid or base that dissociates in a reaction that depends on the hydrogen ion concentration.

2. At the start of the titration, the solution contains only the acid (or base) and the indicator. The color of the indicator reflects the high concentration of the acid (or base).

3. As the base (or acid) is slowly added to the solution, it reacts with the acid (or base) to produce water and a salt. This reaction reduces the concentration of the acid (or base), but the color of the indicator does not change until the solution is nearly neutral.

4. When the solution is nearly neutral, the reaction between the acid (or base) and the indicator becomes significant. This reaction changes the structure of the indicator molecule, which changes its color.

5. The color change of the indicator signals that the solution is neutral, which is the endpoint of the titration. At this point, the amount of base (or acid) added to the solution equals the amount of acid (or base) originally in the solution.

6. The volume of base (or acid) required to reach the endpoint is used to calculate the concentration of the acid (or base) in the solution.