Symmetric Potentiometric Cells for the Measurement of Unified pH Values

Abstract

A unified pH scale of absolute values (pHabs scale) enables the comparison of acidities in different solvents. To date, very few different experimental setups have been used for the measurement of values on this scale. The article describes the design and performance of the different symmetric cells used for unified pH measurement by several institutions. Well-established and reliable standard aqueous buffer solutions are the first step of method validation necessary to achieve a robust metrological level for more complex media. The pH of aqueous standard buffers was measured by differential potentiometry, where the potential between two glass electrodes is measured directly. All the tested electrochemical cells prove to be suitable for unified pH measurements. This validation highlights that the method is, to a large extent, independent of the used equipment, including the cell geometry. The inherent symmetry of the cell design helps to reduce the experimental workload and improve the accuracy of obtained results.