Measuring pH - Indicators Indicators are water-soluble dyes that have different colours in solutions of different pH. They may be used to indicate the approximate pH of a solution or reveal pH change. Measuring pH — pH meters A pH meter consists of three main parts: a pair of electrodes that dip into the solution being measured; an electronic circuit; and a readout device. The electrode pair develops a small voltage, whose magnitude depends on the solution's aqueous hydrogen ion concentration. The electronic circuit amplifies this voltage sufficiently to drive the readout device. On a digital pH meter, the pH is displayed directly. On an analogue pH meter, the pH is shown by a pointer moving across a scale. pH meters must be calibrated periodically: the calibration is checked by immersing the electrode in solutions of known pH, spread 12.11 pH values and aqueous hydrogen lon concentrations Worked example on ealeulating pH fromm [H,0"] ‘Question: The aqueous hydrogen ion concentration in human blood is 4 10-'moldar?. What is the pH of burnan blood? The juice of @ red cabbage can act as san indicator. Tha solutions have (from Left oh BM values OF. 47,1, aad 13, Decimal places The number of decimal places in a pH value is equal to the number of significant figures given in the concentration dats. The pH meter ‘The hydrogen electrode (see soction 25.1) has an £* of zero under standard conditions, ie. 1 mal dm”? solutions, 100 kPa pressure and 298 K temparaturo. Its emf. actually depends on concentration of hydrogen ions in which it is immersed BeE*+ Se In [Et*(aq)) This isan exaniple of a more general expression called tha Nernst equation (see the box “The effect of ‘concentration on E* values: the Nernst equation’, which links coll e.tn.f. with concentration of tons tn solution). For the hydrogen electrode &* = O and as 2 is the number of eloctrans transferred in the cell reaction: H*(aq) +e" —> AAs) 2= Tin this casa and B= 0.026 In [H*(aq)} To convert In into log we multiply by 2.303 (see section 6.3); produces explosive hydrogen gas. Another, more Convenient, electrode system whose potential depends on the pH is the glass electrode, This consists of a platinum wire sealed into a very thin-walled glass tube which contains a buffer solution (a solution of fixed hydrogen ion concentration), ‘The cunt, of this electrode depends on the pkt of the solution in which it is placed. This electrode coupled with a reference electrode comprises a pH electrode, The voltage difference is ineasured on a high resistance voltmeter calibrated directly in pH units. The main drawback is that the thin wall of the glass electrode is rather delicate. Relerence electrode Platinum wire Idepends on concentration of kivdrogen ions in which it is ‘immersed: ban? + 2228 ne (aqy) This is an exaitipla of a moore general expression called the Nernst equation (soe the box "The afloct of concentration on E* values: the Nernst equation’, which: Links cell 4. with concentration of fons in solution). For the hydrogen eloctrode £* = 0 and as is the numbor of electrons transferred in the cell reaction: H*{aq) +e" —* iH{a) #= inthis case and E= 00026 In(H*(aq)] To convert In into log we multiply by 2.303 (see section 6.5): E= 0.026 x 2.303 In [H*(aq)} E= ~0.059 pH. So we ean use the hydrogen electrode to measure pH. Hoveewer, a hydrogen electrode is both cumbersome and in some situations potentially dangerous because it Concentration of hydrogen (H ) ions ww exoleinthatstu.com wire sealed into a very thin-walled glass tube which ‘contains a buffer solution (a solution of fixed hydrogen jon concentration). ‘The ein-f, of this electrode depends on the pH of the solution in which itis placed, This electrode coupled with ‘reference electrode comprises a pH electrode. The voltage difference is measured on a high resistance voltmeter calibrated directly in pH units. The main drawback is that the thin wall of the glass electrode is rather delicate.