pH Sensor
(Order Code PH-BTA)
The pH Sensor can be used for any lab or demonstration
that can be done with a traditional pH meter, including
acid-base titrations, monitoring pH in an aquarium, and investigating the water
quality of streams and lakes.
Note:
Vernier products are designed for educational use. Our products are not
designed nor are they recommended for any industrial, medical, or commercial
process such as life support, patient diagnosis, control of a manufacturing
process, or industrial testing of any kind.
What's Included
pH Sensor
Electrode Storage bottle, containing pH 4/KCl solution
Compatible Software and Interfaces
See
www.vernier.com/manuals/ph-bta
for a list of interfaces and software compatible
with the pH Sensor.
Getting Started
1. Connect the sensor to the interface (LabQuest Mini, LabQuest 2, etc.).
2. Start the appropriate data-collection software (Logger
Pro
, Logger Lite,
LabQuest App) if not already running, and choose New from File menu.
The software will identify the sensor and load a default data-collection setup. You
are now ready to collect data.
If you are collecting data using a Chromebook™, mobile device such as iPad
®
or
Android™ tablet, or a Vernier wireless sensor or interface, please see the following
link for up-to-date connection information:
www.vernier.com/start/ph-bta
Using the Product
1. Remove the storage bottle from the electrode by unscrewing the lid and
removing the bottle and lid.
2. Thoroughly rinse the lower section of the probe, especially around the
bulb-shaped tip, using distilled or deionized water.
3. Connect the sensor following the steps in the Getting Started section of this
user manual.
4. When you are finished making measurements, rinse the electrode with distilled
water.
5. Slide the cap onto the electrode body, and then screw the cap onto the storage
bottle so the tip of the electrode is immersed in the storage solution.
Important:
Do not fully submerge the sensor. The handle is not waterproof.
Do not leave the electrode in acids or bases with concentrations greater than
1.0 M for periods longer than 5 minutes. See
www.vernier.com/ph-sensors
for other
types of pH electrodes.
Videos
View videos related to this product at
www.vernier.com/ph-bta
Calibration
For many experiments, calibrating the pH Sensor is not required. A calibration
equation is stored on each pH Sensor before they are shipped, which is used as a
default by Vernier software.
For the most accurate measurements with this sensor, we recommend calibration. It
is a simple process that takes only a few minutes.
For instructions for pH Sensor calibration using Logger
Pro
computer software,
see
www.vernier.com/til/2341
For instructions for pH Sensor calibration using LabQuest App, see
www.vernier.com/til/3394
For instructions for pH Sensor calibration using Graphical Analysis with a
Chromebook, see
www.vernier.com/til/3631
For instructions for pH Sensor calibration using Graphical Analysis with an
iOS or Android device, see
www.vernier.com/til/3630
In order to calibrate a pH Sensor, or to confirm that a saved pH calibration is
accurate, you should have a supply of pH buffer solutions that cover the range of
the pH values you will be measuring. For more information about pH buffer
solutions, including recipes for preparation, see
www.vernier.com/til/3625
Specifications
Type
Sealed, gel-filled, polycarbonate body, Ag/AgCl
Response time
90% of final reading in 1 second in a buffer
Temperature range
5 to 80°C (readings not compensated)
Range
pH 0–14
Accuracy
± 0.2 pH units
Isopotential pH
pH 7 (point at which temperature has no effect)
Default calibration values
slope: –3.838
intercept: 13.720
Shaft diameter
12 mm OD
Care and Maintenance
Short-term storage (up to 24 hours)
: Place the electrode in pH 4 or pH 7 buffer
solution. It should never be stored in distilled water.
Long-term storage (more than 24 hours)
: Store the electrode in a pH 4
buffer/KCl storage solution in the storage bottle. The pH electrode is shipped in
2
