Role of the activity coefficient in the dissemination of pH: comparison of primary (Harned cell) and secondary (glass electrode) measurements on phosphate buffer considering activity and concentration scales

Despite recent efforts devoted to assessing both the theoretical rationale and the experimental strategy for assignment of primary pH values, these have not yet been accomplished satisfactorily. Traceability and comparability of pH values are achieved only within the constraints of internationally accepted conventions and predefined conditions that cannot account for all possible situations when pH is measured. Critical parameters to be defined are, in particular, the activity coefficients (γ _i) of the ionic species involved in the equilibrium with the hydrogen ions in the solution, which are usually estimated with the approximation typical of the Debye–Hückel theoretical model. For this paper, primary (Harned cell) measurements (traceable to the SI system) of the pH of a phosphate buffer have been considered and the results have been compared with secondary (glass electrode) measurements obtained by considering either the activity (paH) or concentration (pcH) scale of the hydrogen ions. With conventional approaches based on measurements related to activity or concentration scale, discrepancies emerge which have been assigned to incomplete inferences of γ _i arising from chemical features of the solution. It is shown that fitting and comparable paH and pcH results are attainable if evaluation of γ _i is performed using better estimates of the ionic strength, according to an enhanced application of the Debye–Hückel theory.     

Development of a reference solution for the pH of seawater

A method that uses a Harned cell to perform potentiometric pH measurements has been optimized and applied to an aqueous solution of simulated seawater that contains sodium perchlorate, sodium sulfate, sodium hydrogen carbonate and boric acid and has an ionic strength I of 0.57 mol kg⁻¹. The standard metrological approach developed for the measurement of pH in low ionic strength aqueous solutions was maintained, but a few modifications were necessary, and measurement procedures and calculations were modified ad hoc from those adopted in conventional protocols. When determining the standard potential of the cell, E°, NaClO₄ salt was added to a 0.01 mol/kg HCl solution to attain the same ionic strength as the test solution and to investigate possible specific effects related to the high levels and the nature of the background electrolyte. An appropriate value of γ _±HCl (0.737) was then selected from the literature, based on a realistic value for I. Finally, in order to convert the acidity function at zero chloride molality into pH, a suitable value of γ _Cl (0.929) was calculated. As a result, we obtained pH = 8.18 (T = 25 °C) with an associated expanded uncertainty U = 0.01 (coverage factor k = 2). The aim was to establish a sound basis for the pH measurement of seawater by identifying the critical points of the experimental and theoretical procedure, and to discuss further possible developments that would be useful for achieving a reference solution.     

Glass and polymeric membrane electrodes for the measurement of pH in milk and cheese

While there is a considerable interest in the food industry in determining various analytes using ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), only few reports describe their use for direct measurements in food. In this study, the suitability of glass electrodes and ionophore-based solvent polymeric ISEs for the determination of pH in Process cheese, Cheddar cheese and milk was investigated. The liquid junction potential between a 3 M KCl bridge electrolyte and diluted as well as undiluted Process cheese was found to be negligible. Reference electrodes with ceramic plug and sleeve-type junctions performed well, although precautions needed to be taken to prevent plugging at the junctions. While the protein rennet casein posed no problems in pH measurements, the extraction of neutral lipophilic compounds or hydrophobic peptides into solvent polymeric membranes was evident, resulting in some loss of selectivity for monovalent cations upon exposure to cheese. However, it was found that ISEs based on tridodecylamine (R₃N) as ionophore and o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (oNPOE) as plasticizer can be used to accurately measure the pH of milk and, after desensitization of the electrodes in a cheese emulsion, of diluted Process cheese. Since pH measurements with a glass electrode showed that emulsions of cheese moderately diluted to a cheese content of 70% have the same pH as undiluted cheeses, it is possible to determine the pH in cheese with ionophore-based ISEs. R₃N membranes also performed well in undiluted milk.     

Equations for calculation of the pH of buffer solutions containing sodium or potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium hydrogen phosphate, and sodium chloride at 25°C

Published thermodynamic data measured in aqueous mixtures of sodium or potassium dihydrogen phosphate with hydrogen phosphate and chloride at 25°C were used to test recently developed methods for calculation of the pH of phosphate buffer solutions. Equations for ionic activity coefficients are used in these methods. It is shown that all data used in the tests up to an ionic strength of about 0.5 mol-kg^-1 can be accurately predicted by the two methods recommended. In one of these methods, equations of the Hückel type are used for ionic activity coefficients and in the other equations of the Pitzer type. Several sets of phosphate buffer solutions are recommended,e.g., for calibrations of glass electrode cells. In the recommended sets, the pH of the buffer solutions can be calculated either by the Hückel or Pitzer method, and the pH predictions of these methods agree in most cases within 0.005 at least up to ionic strengths of about 0.2 mol-kg^-1. The pH values of the two primary pH standards endorsed by IUPAC based on aqueous mixtures of KH₂PO₄ and Na₂HPO₄,i.e., pH values of 6.865 and 7.413, can also be accurately predicted by the equations recommended in this study.     

Effect of citrate impurities on the reference pH value of potassium dihydrogen buffer solution

Solutions of potassium dihydrogen citrate, KH₂C₆H₅O₇, exhibit reference pH values close to those of the primary standard pH buffer solutions of tartrate and phthate. Nevertheless, as opposed to all other recommended primary buffer standards, the citrate reagent is not commercially available as a standard reference material (SRM).In this work, experiments have been performed on solid reagent from different sources, which revealed the presence of the various citrate species in variable amounts. This may arise from the sensitivity of the system to the purification strategy, owing to the proximity of the acidity constants of the triprotic citric acid, H₃C₆H₅O₇.An experimental procedure has been developed which leads to a satisfactory preparation of the citrate reagent, to an extent that its solutions, independently of batch on supplier, exhibit reproducible pH values, in agreement with the conventionally assigned pH (S) = 3.776 at 25 °C for 0.05 m KH₂C₆H₅O₇.Comparison of expected and experimental values is used as a quantitative test for the quality of reagent, eventually indicating the need for purification according to recommendations.     

Reassessment of pH reference values with improved methodology for the evaluation of ionic strength

The conflict between pH as empirical number in routine control and the pH value regarded as conveying some information concerning the effective concentration or activity of hydrogen ions, a_H, has caused much confusion.There are, however, reasons to conclude that the overwhelming amount of thermodynamic data is not sufficiently accurate—either due to ignorance of metrological concepts or due to insufficiently specified measurement processes of fundamental chemical quantities pH.The commonly used seven reference buffer solutions to which primary pH values have been conventional assigned, represent a selection out of a more extensive list, recommended by NBS (now NIST) in 1962. From then onwards conventions concerning the Debye-Hückel model of electrolyte solutions and ionic strength have been revised and the pH(S) values reassessed in conformity but only for these seven reference buffer solutions. The others have, so far remained unchanged, locking harmonisation of the conventionally assigned pH(S) values.In this work, ionic strength is calculated through complete equations derived from the acidity constants. Concentrations of the various species involved in the conventional assignment of pH and their corresponding activity coefficients are therefore, more rigorously known. The process proves particularly useful for poliprotic acids with overlapping acidity constants, where the ratio is less than 10³.As a consequence, conventionally assigned pH values of reference buffer solutions are recalculated and corrections are introduced as appropriate.     

Practical aspects of the uncertainty and traceability of spectrochemical measurement results by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of trace elements concentration in water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is a common and well established technique in many chemical testing laboratories. However, the evaluation of measurement uncertainty results is not systematically implemented. The paper presents an easy step-by-step example leading to the evaluation of the combined standard uncertainty of copper determination in water using ETAAS. The major contributors to the overall measurement uncertainty are identified due to amount of copper in water sample that mainly depends on the absorbance measurements, due to certified reference material and due to auto-sampler volume measurements. The practical aspects how the traceability of copper concentration in water can be established and demonstrated are also pointed out.     

The Japanese traceability system and the role of uncertainty evaluation in measurement

 The new traceability system of measurement standards based on the Japanese Measurement Law has been established since November 1993. Some reference materials such as metal standard solutions, pH standard solutions and standard gas mixtures are included in the system together with relevant physical quantities. In this system, primary measurement standard instruments or primary reference materials are designated by the regulation for each quantity. For the practical dissemination of each quantity, accreditation of calibration bodies is recognized by the steering committee under the supervision of the government. In the course of assessment of a candidate calibration body, the concepts of ISO/IEC Guide 25 and ISO/IEC Guide 58 are effectively introduced. For the estimation of reliability, the concept of how to introduce the statistical approach is effectively considered. The method of uncertainty evaluation described in the ISO document entitled "Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement" is adopted.     

Influence of ionic strength and pH on the first 60 min of Pseudomonas aeruginosa attachment to ZnSe and to TiO2 monitored by ATR-IR spectroscopy

Establishing the factors which influence the attachment of bacteria to surfaces is important in both preventing and enhancing biofilm formation. The initial hour of attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ZnSe and to TiO₂ from solutions of different ionic strength and pH was studied using in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. The TiO₂ surface was prepared by dip-coating a ZnSe internal reflection element, which produced a 50 nm thick, continuous flat film. At pH 6.3 attachment was found to increase with ionic strength up to 0.03 mol l⁻¹ but to decrease at 0.15 mol l⁻¹. At an ionic strength of 0.003 mol l⁻¹ attachment increased with pH from 4 to 6.3 to 10, but at ionic strength of 0.03 mol l⁻¹ attachment was greater at pH 6.3 than at pH 10. The influence of ionic strength appears to be due to charge factors and/or related changes in the degree of extension of bacterial surface polymers. The complex trends in the influence of pH on attachment can not be explained solely in terms of bacterial and substrate charge, bacterial surface polymer extension or bacterial metabolic activity.     

Direct Evidence of Local pH Change and the Role of Alkali Cation during CO2 Electroreduction in Aqueous Media

We report, for the first time, utilizing a rotating ring‐disc electrode (RRDE) assembly for detecting changes in the local pH during aqueous CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). Using Au as a model catalyst where CO is the only product, we show that the CO oxidation peak shifts by ?86±2 mV/pH during CO₂RR, which can be used to directly quantify the change in the local pH near the catalyst surface during electrolysis. We then applied this methodology to investigate the role of cations in affecting the local pH during CO₂RR and find that during CO₂RR to CO on Au in an MHCO₃ buffer (where M is an alkali metal), the experimentally measured local basicity decreased in the order Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cs⁺, which agreed with an earlier theoretical prediction by Singh et al. Our results also reveal that the formation of CO is independent of the cation. In summary, RRDE is a versatile tool for detecting local pH change over a diverse range of CO₂RR catalysts. Additionally, using the product itself (i.e. CO) as the local pH probe allows us to investigate CO₂RR without the interference of additional probe molecules introduced to the system. Most importantly, considering that most CO₂RR products have pH‐dependent oxidation, RRDE can be a powerful tool for determining the local pH and correlating the local pH to reaction selectivity.     

Fabrication and Use of Dual‐function Iridium Oxide Coated Gold SECM Tips. An Application to pH Monitoring above a Copper Electrode Surface during Nitrate Reduction.

The fabrication of a gold microelectrode modified with iridium oxide film (IrO_x) and its use as tip with a dual function in SECM experiments is reported. The defective structure of the coating onto the microelectrode surface was used as strategy to combine the advantages of both amperometric (for current‐distance determination) and potentiometric (for pH sensing) SECM operation modes. Approach curves, using oxygen and hexaammineruthenium(III) as redox mediators, were obtained without significant loss of the performance and reproducibility of the potentiometric pH response. This allowed the precise positioning of the proposed tip above a substrate in SECM experiments and, subsequently, to monitor pH at the substrate surface. The IrO_x modified microelectrode was applied successfully in SECM experiments involving the local proton consumption during the nitrate reduction at a copper cathode surface.     

Evaluation of the residual liquid junction potential contribution to the uncertainty in pH measurement: A case study on low ionic strength natural waters

The residual liquid junction potential (RLJP) needs to be accounted for in pH uncertainty estimation. Attempts to do this and the currently available methods for evaluating the RLJP are critically discussed and their weak sides are pointed out. In this work an empirical approach to the problem is proposed. It is based on the use of the RLJP bias estimated on a variety of measurement conditions for a specific class of analytical objects essentially differing in ionic strength from the pH calibration buffers. The data from five independent studies, including interlaboratory comparisons, on pH measurement in low ionic strength waters were used to find the overall bias observed in the 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ strong acid solution. The procedure includes quantifying the uncertainty of bias values from separate studies by combination of the relevant uncertainty components and testing the consistency of the data. The weighted mean bias in pH was found to be 0.043 ± 0.007 (k = 2). With this estimate, the pH measurement uncertainties calculated according to the previously suggested procedure (I. Leito, L. Strauss, E. Koort, V. Pihl, Accredit. Qual. Assur. 7 (2002) 242-249.) can be enlarged to take the uncorrected bias into account. The resulting uncertainties on the level of 0.10-0.14 (k = 2) are obtained in this way for pH measurement in water and poorly buffered aqueous solutions in the range of pH 7.5-3.5.     

酸碱滴定：滴定剂液滴尺寸与滴定突跃

存在滴定突跃是滴定分析可以进行的先决条件。国内教科书讨论突跃范围的概念时均利用了滴定分数100±0.1%的条件,即按照滴定分数99.9%和100.1%来计算突跃范围。实际上,滴定过程中滴定剂是以液滴为单位加入到被测溶液中的,指示剂滴定法中也是以一滴或半滴标准溶液加入后被测溶液颜色发生改变来确定终点的,因此,按照化学计量点前后欠缺或过量半滴标准溶液来计算突跃范围更具科学性和实用价值。本文将计量点附近单滴滴定剂加入被测溶液引起的p H变化定义为突跃范围。对强碱滴定一元强酸体系的突跃范围进行了数学计算。结果表明,突跃范围与被测溶液的体积和浓度、滴定剂的浓度和液滴尺寸、被测溶液和滴定剂的浓度比等因素都有密切相关性,给出了不同于教科书的某些重要结论,这些新结论与实际滴定情形相符,对指导滴定分析具有重要参考价值。     

A Determination of Standard Potentials and Related Primary pH Standards in the 50 Mass Percent (N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidinone + Water) Mixture at Various Temperatures

Following the IUPAC-endorsed procedure, the primary pH standards offered by the equimolal phosphate buffer (Na₂HPO₄ (0.01 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + KH₂PO₄ (0.01 mol⋅kg⁻¹)) in the (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone + water) solvent mixture of 50 mass percent composition at various temperatures have been determined from potential difference measurements with the reversible Harned cell. Since the essential prerequisite of the above procedure is the knowledge of the (hitherto unknown) standard potential difference of Harned’s cell, a parallel supplementary series of potential difference measurements has been carried out with the reversible cell, Pt|H₂|HCl(m)|AgCl|Ag|Pt according to the classical thermodynamic procedure. The problem of comparability of the pH scale in the (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone + water) solvent with that in the pure water solvent is duly discussed in terms of primary medium effects.     

Buffers for the physiological pH range: Thermodynamic constants of substituted aminopropanesulfonic acids from 5 to 55°C

ThepK ₂ values for 3-[(l,l-Dimethyl-2-hydroxymethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (AMPSO), and 3-[N,N-Bis(-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (DIPSO) have been determined at 12 temperatures over the range 5 to 55‡C by measurements of the emf of cells without liquid junction containing hydrogen and silver-silver chloride electrodes. The values of pK ₂ for AMPSO and DIPSO were found to be 9.138 and 7.576, respectively, at 25‡C. The thermodynamic quantities, δG‡, δH‡, δS‡, and δC _p ^‡ were calculated from the change of the equilibrium constants with temperature. These buffer substances are useful as secondary pH standards in the physiological region of pH 7 to 9. Camille and Henry Dreyfus Fellow, 1994–1996.     

聚合溶液pH值对染料敏化太阳电池中聚吡咯对电极结构和性能的影响

电化学合成聚吡咯（PPy）时,聚合电解液的pH 值对PPy 薄膜的形貌和性质有较大的影响,进而影响PPy薄膜对I^-/I₃^-的电催化活性以及基于PPy对电极（CE）的染料敏化太阳电池（DSSCs）的光电转换性能. 本文采用电化学恒电位方法,在掺杂氟的SnO₂（FTO）导电玻璃上合成出了对甲苯磺酸根离子掺杂的聚吡咯（PPy-TsO）电极,并将其作为DSSCs 的对电极. 通过改变吡咯聚合时聚合电解液的pH值,借助扫描电镜（SEM）、紫外-可见（UV-Vis）吸收光谱、X-射线光电子能谱（XPS）和循环伏安（CV）等表征技术,详细探讨了聚合溶液pH值对PPy CE形貌、结构及其对I^-/I₃^-的电催化性能的影响. 研究发现在pH 2.0下合成的聚吡咯对阴离子掺杂率最高且链共轭性最佳,具有对I^-/I₃^-氧化还原介质最强的催化能力,基于此PPy CE的电池光电转化效率也最高.pH 值太大或太小都不利于生成具有高掺杂率和高催化活性的PPy电极,组装成DSSCs后的光电转换效率也较低.     

Reflections regarding uncertainty of measurement, on the results of a Nordic fatigue test interlaboratory comparison

This paper presents the experiences of calculation and reporting uncertainty of measurement in fatigue testing. Six Nordic laboratories performed fatigue tests on steel specimens. The laboratories also reported their results concerning uncertainty of measurement and how they calculated it. The results show large differences in the way the uncertainties of measurement were calculated and reported. No laboratory included the most significant uncertainty source, bending stress (due to misalignment of the testing machine, incorrect specimens and/or incorrectly mounted specimens), when calculating the uncertainty of measurement. Several laboratories did not calculate the uncertainty of measurement in accordance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) [1].     

聚合溶液pH值对染料敏化太阳电池中聚吡咯对电极结构和性能的影响

电化学合成聚吡咯(PPy)时,聚合电解液的pH值对PPy薄膜的形貌和性质有较大的影响,进而影响PPy薄膜对I-/I3-的电催化活性以及基于PPy对电极(CE)的染料敏化太阳电池(DSSCs)的光电转换性能.本文采用电化学恒电位方法,在掺杂氟的SnO2(FTO)导电玻璃上合成出了对甲苯磺酸根离子掺杂的聚吡咯(PPyTsO)电极,并将其作为DSSCs的对电极.通过改变吡咯聚合时聚合电解液的pH值,借助扫描电镜(SEM)、紫外-可见(UV-Vis)吸收光谱、X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)和循环伏安(CV)等表征技术,详细探讨了聚合溶液pH值对PPy CE形貌、结构及其对I-/I3-的电催化性能的影响.研究发现在pH 2.0下合成的聚吡咯对阴离子掺杂率最高且链共轭性最佳,具有对I-/I3-氧化还原介质最强的催化能力,基于此PPy CE的电池光电转化效率也最高.pH值太大或太小都不利于生成具有高掺杂率和高催化活性的PPy电极,组装成DSSCs后的光电转换效率也较低.     

Contribution to the certification of cadmium and lead amount content in the BCR CRM-278R mussel tissue by isotope dilution mass spectrometry

 Metrological certification through a primary method of measurement and how it can be achieved is demonstrated in this paper, using the example of re-certification of cadmium and lead content in a biological material, the Bureau Communataire de Reference, reference material CRM-278R mussel tissue. The measurement method used was isotope dilution in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Microwave digestion was applied to the samples prior to the measurements. A detailed uncertainty budget was evaluated according to the International Organisation of Standardisation, Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty and EURACHEM Guide, resulting in an expanded uncertainty. Received: 20 August 1999 / Accepted: 3 January 2000     

Polypyrrole films electropolymerized from ionic liquids and in a traditional liquid electrolyte: A comparison of morphology and electro-optical properties

Polypyrrole (pPy) films have been formed by electropolymerization from a conventional media: lithium triflate in acetonitrile and in room temperature ionic liquids: 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(perfluoroethanesulfonyl)imide (EMIPFSI) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (EMITF). The well ordered nodular morphology of the pPy film grown in EMIPFSI with significantly low roughness endows these films with superior redox activity and electro-optical properties. Ambient temperature dc conductivities of 43, 15 and 13 S cm⁻¹, for films grown in EMIPFSI, EMITF and control solutions have seen obtained. The well-organized particulate morphology of the pPy film grown in EMIPFSI seems to be responsible for its enhanced conductivity, as also better interfacial charge transfer capabilities as compared to their counterparts derived. Under an external bias of ±2.2 V, the sluggish switching kinetics shown by the films under scrutiny presumably are due to the (i) resistive barriers formed at the two interfaces of the pPy electrode (ii) a plausible passivation layer on the solution side of the film during electrochemical cycling. This demonstrates the need to further improve the interfacial properties of pPy so as to obtain a consistent and stable electrochromic response.