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2.2

The pH of various water samples

Many processes which are essential for life require a certain pH range for them to proceed optimally. The pH of a
standing water can change cyclically with the seasons or
in the course of a day. Different pH values can also be
found in the various horizontal and vertical zones.
The measurement of pH so allows a description of the condition of the water, and supplies information on impairment
by the introduction of H3O+ ions by acids (e.g. nitric acid
and sulphuric acid). In this experiment, the pH values of
various water samples are to be determined.
Materials (for the experimental procedure using the
CHEM-UNIT)
Cobra3 CHEM-UNIT
12153.00* 1
Cobra3 power supply
12151.99 1
Data cable 2 x SUB-D, 9 pin
14602.00 1
Software Cobra3 CHEM-UNIT
14520.61* 1
pH electrode, gel-filled, BNC
46265.10* 1
Immersion probe NiCr-Ni, Teflon
13615.05* 1
Wash bottle, 500 ml
33931.00 1
Beaker, DURAN, tall form, 50 ml
36001.00 2
Beaker, DURAN, tall form, 150 ml
36003.00 7
Bunsen support,
180 x 100 mm, l = 750 mm
37690.00 1
Right angle clamp
37697.00 2
Double electrode holder
45284.10 1
Buffer solution pH 4.01, 460 ml
46270.11 1

Buffer solution pH 10.01, 460 ml

46272.11 1
Distilled water, 5 l
31246.81 1
Water samples: Aquarium water, rainwater, lake water,
river water, drinking water, mineral water
PC, Windows
Set-up and procedure (using the Chem-Unit)
Set the apparatus up as shown in Fig. 1
Connect the pH electrode to the pH input and the
immersion probe to the temperature input T1 of the
Chem-Unit
Call up the Cobra3 Measure programme in Windows
and assign the Chem-Unit as measuring instrument
Set the measurement data as shown in Fig. 2. In the
<Displays...> menu, set both Digital display 1 and
Diagram 1a (range 1-9 #) to pH (range 5 to 10)
Set the temperature compensation in the <Preferences / pH> menu to temperature probe T1:
pH(comp.T1)
Calibrate the pH electrode by pouring the two buffer
solutions into separate 50 ml beakers and calling up
<Calibrate / pH>. Should the electrode which is to be
used have already been recently calibrated, however,
then a new calibration is not necessary (automatic saving of calibration data)
Fix the double electrode holder to the rod of the support stand with a right angle clamp

Fig. 1: Experimental set-up using the Chem-Unit

Phywe Series of publication Natural Sciences with Cobra3 Part 6 PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH D-37070 Gttingen

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The pH of various water samples

Approximately half-fill a 150 ml beaker with distilled

(demineralized) water and place it on the base plate of
the stand
Use the double electrode clamp to hold and so adjust
the positions of the pH electrode and the immersion
probe, that they are completely immersed in the water
Start measurement with <Continue> and <Start
value>; the first measured value is then displayed
Half-fill a 150 ml beaker with water from a different
deionizing unit, immerse the electrodes, wait a
moment, then activate measurement with <Save
value>
Repeat as for distilled water with aquarium water, rain
water, lake water, river water, drinking water, and two
different sorts of mineral water
At the end of the measurement, save the data in menu
<File> <Save measurement as...>

Results and evaluation

Fig. 3 shows a curve, as is displayed by the programme
after ending the measurement. The individual measured
values are listed in the following Table:

n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Water sample
Demineralized water 1
Demineralized water 2
Aquarium water
Rainwater
Lake water
River water
Drinking water
Mineral water 1
Mineral water 2

pH
5.57
5.79
6.61
7.86
7.95
7.99
8.22
8.56
9.31

Fig. 2: Measurement parameters (Chem-Unit)

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The pH of a body of a water depends essentially on the

equilibrium of the free carbonic acid with carbonate and
bicarbonate. In lime-rich waters, the pH is extensively constant, because of the buffering effect of this system. In
waters of medium hardness, the pH is frequently in the
region of the neutral point (pH = 6.5 - 7.5), in soft and CO2
rich waters it is roughly between 5 and 6, and in waters
very rich in carbonic acid it can drop to 4.5 - 4. In waters
rich in carbonate it can increase up to 9. At very low pH values, the presence of iron and aluminium is dangerous for
fish and spawns. At high pH values, the poisoning effect of
ammonium compounds increases. When the pH drops
below 5.5 or goes above 9, life is impossible in the long
run.
The water samples from river and lake were taken in the
afternoon, when the pH reaches its highest value because
of the CO2 demand of the life in them.
EC Guidelines require drinking water to have a pH of
between 6.5 and 8.5. Mineral water 1 with a dissolved salts
content of 750 mg/l had a lower pH than mineral water 2
with approx. 4500 mg/l dissolved salts content.
Experimental procedure using the Basic-Unit
The experiment using the Chem-Unit described above can
be analogously carried out using the Basic-Unit. For this,
the entries in the list of materials which are marked with an
asterisk must be replaced by the materials listed below.
The set-up and procedure are then also slightly different
(see below, in particular Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).
Changes in the materials required for use of the BasicUnit:
Cobra3 Basic-Unit
12150.00
1
Software Cobra3 pH/potential
14509.61
1
Measuring module pH/potential
12101.00
1
pH Electrode, plastic, gel-filled
18450.00
1
Temperature sensor, semiconductor type 12120.00
1

Fig. 3: Display of the measured pH values

Phywe Series of publication Natural Sciences with Cobra3 Part 6 PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH D-37070 Gttingen

CD6
2.2

The pH of various water samples

Set-up and procedure using the Basic-Unit

Prepare the set-up as in Fig. 4
Connect the pH electrode to the pH measuring module
and the temperature sensor to input S2 of the BasicUnit
Call up the Cobra3 Measure programme in Windows
and assign Cobra3 pH/Potential as measuring instrument
Set the measurement data as shown in Fig. 5
Set the temperature compensation to <Automatic>
(temperature probe S2)
Carry on from here as with the Chem-Unit
Note
The measurement can also be carried out without a temperature probe, but then the temperature of the solution
must be entered by hand in the menu <Preferences / pH>,
or, when using the Basic-Unit, in the field <Temperature
compensation>.
This experiment can also be carried out using hand-held
measuring instrument pH 07139.00, pH electrode
46265.10, pH software 14419.61 and data cable
07157.01.

Fig. 5: Measurement parameters (Basic-Unit)

Fig. 4: Experimental set-up using the Basic-Unit

Phywe Series of publication Natural Sciences with Cobra3 Part 6 PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH D-37070 Gttingen

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The pH of various water samples

Room for notes

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Phywe Series of publication Natural Sciences with Cobra3 Part 6 PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH D-37070 Gttingen