Environmental Engineering – 20-CE-92

Experiment No. 03
DETERMINATION OF pH IN WATER SAMPLE USING pH METER

Definition

1. pH (Potential of Hydrogen)
pH is a measure of H+ ion concentration in a solution and it is defined as log 10 (H+) ion. It determines
the acidity, neutrality, and basicity of water (or any sample).
2. pH Meter
A pH meter is an electronic device used to measure the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of a solution. It
consists of a pH electrode, which is a glass tube containing a special solution that responds to
changes in pH, and a meter that displays the pH value of the solution.

Theory

pH Paper (litmus paper) & pH meter are used to determine the acidity, neutrality & basicity of a
sample, whereas pH paper has some limitations as it does not indicate the exact pH of sample (not in
decimal points, i.e., 6.5). However, pH meter gives us the exact pH of a sample even in decimal
points. pH is more accurate as compared to pH paper.

pH Range

pH number ranges from 0 to 14.

 0-7 is Acidic Range (Greater Concentration of H+ ions)

 7 is Neutral. (Equal Concentration of H+ & O- Ions)
 7-14 is Basic Range (Greater Concentration of O- Ions)

Standard Range for Drinking water is 6.5 – 8.5.

Significance

1. pH is significant in water treatment as it affects the efficiency of disinfection, coagulation,

and corrosion control.

2. In aquatic ecosystems, pH can impact the survival and reproduction of aquatic organisms
and the availability of essential nutrients.

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3. In the food industry, pH influences the shelf life, taste, and safety of products, and can also
affect the efficacy of preservatives and antimicrobial agents.

4. Maintaining proper pH levels in swimming pools is crucial to ensure swimmer comfort and
prevent damage to the pool infrastructure.

5. In agriculture and gardening, pH can affect soil fertility and plant nutrient availability,
ultimately impacting plant growth and yield.

Principle
A pH meter consists of a potentiometer and a glass sensing electrode, a reference electrode & a
temperature compensating device. Buffer Solutions are used for the calibration of pH meter.

Figure 1: pH Meter

Chemicals
1. pH 7.0 buffer Solution
2. pH 4.0 buffer Solution
3. Solution to be Tested.

Apparatus

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1. Beaker
2. pH Meter

Procedure

1. Switch on the pH meter & calibrate the electrode.

2. After performing calibration, rinse the electrode thoroughly with distilled water & dip its sensing
end in a beaker containing distilled water.
3. Place the electrode in the sample & record the pH value when the display is stable.
4. Rinse the electrode thoroughly with distilled water after each measurement.
5. Always keep the electrode emerged in distilled water when not in use.

Figure 2: pH Meter in UET Taxila Lab

Observations

The sample on which test was performed gave following results:

pH = 7.73 (Neutral)

Recommendations
As per Standard Recommendation & Recommendations by WHO, the limit is 6.5 – 8.5.

Results: The water sample we tested gave a pH value of 7.73 which is within the Standard
Recommendations, hence the water is drinkable as per the pH limit.

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